REBUTTAL/CLARIFICATION (Regarding News Item Published on 15th May 2026 “Section of bridge linking Kandhkot & Ghotki collapse”)
Karachi 18 May 26: The Government of Sindh Works & Services Department has clarified a news item regarding reports published on 15th May 2026 under the caption “Section of bridge linking Kandhkot & Ghotki collapses”. In this regard, it is clarified that no bridge collapse occurred at the Project site. The incident was limited to a single pre-cast post-tensioned Girder of Span No. 143 during padding-up activity, which became unstable after the derrick crane tower placing the Girder slipped due to heavy rainfall during the preceding night.
It is pertinent to mention that each bridge span comprises six (06) girders and that 47 girders had already been successfully launched and padded-up prior to the incident. Fortunately, no human injury, casualty or loss of life occurred, reflecting the effectiveness of the safety arrangements and operational controls maintained at site. The Project quality assurance and supervision are being carried out by internationally reputed Independent Engineering Consultants, namely M/s Loya Associates and M/s Techno-Consult International, while further directions have also been issued to strengthen safety measures and standard operating procedures for the remaining works.
The Government of Sindh remains fully committed to timely completion of this strategically important Project in accordance with approved engineering standards, safety protocols and quality benchmarks, with completion expected in 2027. The current physical construction progress of the Project is around 52 percent. The construction activities are being undertaken 24/7.
It is highlighted that the Project is one of the flagship infrastructure initiatives of the Government of Sindh being executed under the Public Private Partnership mode, aimed at establishing direct connectivity between District Ghotki and District Kandhkot over River Indus by reducing the travelling distance from 172 km to 30 km, thereby significantly improving regional connectivity, industrial logistics, transportation efficiency and socio-economic activity in Upper Sindh, while carrying substantial strategic and economic importance due to the presence of major industrial, oil & gas, fertilizer and power generation assets in the region and Kandhkot’s strategic location along the proposed Pak-China Economic Corridor alignment