PPP Policy Board approves major projects

KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, presiding over the 52nd meeting of the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Policy Board, approved and deliberated upon a wide range of strategic infrastructure, education, transport, technology and industrial development projects aimed at accelerating Sindh’s socioeconomic growth through public-private partnerships. He said that four Sindh PPP projects were selected as international case studies at the 10th United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) International PPP Forum held in Barcelona, Spain. Out of 139 PPP projects submitted from 21 countries, only 69 projects were selected globally for inclusion in the UNECE PPP Forum Compendium, and all four projects submitted by Sindh’s PPP Unit secured selection. The selected projects included the Teachers Training Institute (TTI), Shahrah-e-Bhutto Expressway, Education Management Organisations (EMOs), and Carbon Emission Reduction through Forestation. The meeting was told that Sindh’s Teachers Training Institute & College (TTIC) Project was showcased as one of the “Most Impactful Projects” during a plenary session attended by over 600 participants, including governments, investors and development practitioners from more than 60 countries. The chief minister said the international recognition reflected the strength of Sindh’s PPP framework and its alignment with sustainable development goals and global best practices. The PPP Policy Board deliberated on the Sindh Institute of Teacher Education (SITE) project proposed under the Universities & Boards Department. The board was informed that the Sindh government had established SITE through the Sindh Institute of Teacher Education Act, 2025, as an autonomous degree-awarding institution dedicated to teacher education, educational research and leadership development. The project seeks to address the shortage of competent faculty in Sindh’s teacher education system, particularly for four-year B Ed programmes being offered in 30 Teacher Training Institutes across the province. The board was informed that M/s Durbeen, a not-for-profit organisation and sister concern of Zindagi Trust, had submitted an unsolicited proposal for the establishment, management and operation of SITE. The board was also informed about Durbeen’s collaboration with the University of Oxford for the development of an MPhil curriculum for teacher educators adapted to Pakistan’s context. The PPP Policy Board approved the concept proposal and authorised utilisation of the existing consortium of transaction advisors already engaged by STEVTA for conducting due diligence and transaction advisory services for the project. The PPP Policy Board reviewed progress on the NED Science & Technology Park Project being developed in collaboration with Enertech Holding Company, a subsidiary of Kuwait Investment Authority. The board was informed that the concession agreement had already been signed while site clearance and preparatory works were underway. The meeting discussed complications arising from delays in the grant of Special Technology Zone (STZ) status due to federal restrictions linked with IMF conditionalities. Officials presented alternative structuring options in case the STZ status is not granted. The board was informed that under a proposed structure, the government’s obligation to purchase unsold commercial space would only arise three years after commercial operations if occupancy remained below 60 per cent. The board authorised continued engagement with federal authorities for obtaining STZ approval while simultaneously refining alternative project structuring mechanisms. The board approved key decisions regarding the Karachi Port to Qayumabad Corridor Project, a major elevated corridor connecting Karachi Port to Jam Sadiq Interchange. The 16. 5-kilometer project includes 10. 4 kilometres of elevated structure and 6. 1 kilometres of embankment sections. The meeting was told that the bidding process had been completed through international competitive bidding conducted electronically under SPPRA EPADS. Following the technical and financial evaluation, a company/ firm emerged as the lowest evaluated bidder. The PPP Policy Board approved the consortium as the successful bidder and authorised the executing agency to sign concession agreements and financing instruments. The meeting, held at CM House, was attended by provincial ministers Sharjeel Inam Memon, Nasir Shah, Jam Khan Shoro, Ismail Rahu and Ziaul Hassan Lanjar, CM’s Special Assistant Syed Qasim Naveed, MPAs Ghulam Qadir Chandio and Qasim Soomro, Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah and others.

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