KARACHI: Engro – widely regarded as one of the largest conglomerates of Pakistan – renovated the iconic PIDC Bridge in Karachi which serves as an important connection to the M.T. Khan Road.
The bridge has been refurbished in collaboration with the Government of Sindh and was inaugurated by Murtaza Wahab Siddiqui – the Advisor to Chief Minister of Sindh and the newly instated Administrator for Karachi – in presence of Ghias Khan, President Engro Corporation; Ahsan Zafar Syed on the eve of country’s 74th Independence Day.
The PIDC Bridge also known as the Chand Mari or Lovers Bridge has its history dating back to the pre-partition times and played a significant role in the development of Karachi city in its nascent colonial days.
The Bridge was first constructed when railways was introduced in the city and was meant to provide a link between the then newly constructed warehouses and the commercial centre – today, it continues to provide an arterial connection for vehicular traffic in the city.
The current renovation was designed and executed in collaboration with the Government of Sindh and CGD Consulting who also happened to have designed and launched the renovated Jahangir Park.
The designers referred to historical data and pictures to restore some old features of the bridge to give it a retro feel and look. The newly refurbished PIDC Bridge now boasts of balustrades, beautiful protective parapets, and Victorian-era-inspired lamp posts as their marked architectural feature.
While inaugurating and visiting the PIDC Bridge, Murtaza Wahab – Administrator Karachi – said, “There are a handful of pre-partition bridges in Karachi that are still going strong and have tremendous cultural significance. This hard-wearing bridge has been renovated by the Government of Sindh through a public-private partnership in an attempt to modernize and beautify the city of Karachi.
“I am thankful to Engro for spear-heading this renovation project. The People’s government has a long track of delivering many such projects in the city year on year and I am hopeful that in the months ahead we will provide more such projects to the residents of Karachi,” he added.
Speaking at the occasion, Ghias Khan – President Engro Corporation said: “Engro has always remained committed to its communities and we feel an inherent responsibility to work on spaces around us. The renovation project of this iconic PIDC Bridge in Karachi is an attempt to ensure that we provide beautiful and utilitarian infrastructure to our public. “
“The new and improved design would not only facilitate pedestrian movement but also ensure smoother flow of vehicular traffic while adding to the beauty and cultural diversity of this area,” he added.
