Malir Expressway Project, Pakistan

The Malir Expressway was planned as a 39-kilometer highway connecting Karachi’s Defense Housing Authority (DHA) to the Karachi-Hyderabad Motorway. Designed to improve traffic flow and urban connectivity, the project was developed through a public-private partnership (PPP), with the Sindh provincial government seeking partial funding from the Asian Development Bank (ADB). 

However, the project faced strong opposition from local communities, including farmers and indigenous groups, who raised concerns about environmental harm, displacement, and violations of procedural and legal safeguards. The community alleged that the project failed to adhere to ADB policies and domestic environmental laws, and that it only conducted an environmental impact assessment (EIA) after the project began, misrepresenting ecological and social impacts. 

On 9 November 2022, indigenous farmers filed a complaint to the ADB Accountability Mechanism (ADB-AM), alleging serious violations of ADB’s Safeguard Policy and international commitments. Key allegations included:

• Environmental Risks: The EIA, conducted post-project commencement, misrepresented the project area as barren and failed to address critical ecological impacts, including risks to biodiversity, endangered species, and the Malir River. Hydrological changes and climate-related risks, such as increased flooding and urban heat, were also inadequately assessed.
• Displacement and Resettlement: The Land Acquisition and Resettlement Plan (LARP) was incomplete, failed to address the rights of non-titleholders, and did not provide adequate measures for compensation or livelihood restoration for the 375,000 residents at risk of displacement.
• Stakeholder Exclusion: Consultations were minimal and non-inclusive, particularly with women, Indigenous communities, and rural farmers, violating ADB's safeguards for meaningful and gender-sensitive engagement.
• Indigenous Rights: Despite evidence of Indigenous Peoples residing in the project area, they were not recognized or included in the project's safeguard framework, contrary to ADB’s policies. The project threatened their cultural and economic practices, land use, and customary rights.

The Malir Expressway case underscores the importance of adhering to environmental and social safeguards in large-scale infrastructure projects. It demonstrates how community advocacy and mechanisms like the ADB-AM can provide platforms for accountability. The case highlights the need for proactive due diligence, transparent engagement with affected communities, and robust safeguards to prevent conflicts and uphold environmental and social justice.