The Sindh government has approved major infrastructure and public service projects under the Public-Private Partnership model, including the launch of 500 electric buses for Karachi and Hyderabad and the construction of a 16.5-kilometre elevated expressway from Karachi Port to Qayyumabad.
The approvals came during the 48th meeting of the PPP Policy Board chaired by Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah at the CM House on Friday.
The meeting was attended by provincial ministers Sharjeel Inam Memon, Nasir Hussain Shah, Jam Khan Shoro, Zia-ul-Hassan Lanjar, and others, along with senior officials including Chief Secretary Asif Haider Shah and Chairman P&D Board Najam Shah.
Green transport project
The board gave the go-ahead for the People’s Green Transport Project, which aims to introduce 500 electric buses in Karachi and Hyderabad in phases. The project includes the development of depots, charging stations, bus shelters, automated fare systems, and a modern transport management network.
Also Read: Karachi University campus bus hits second-year student, killing her
Implemented under a Design-Build-Finance-Maintain-Operate-Transfer (DBFMOT) model with a 12-year concession, the project is expected to serve over 200,000 passengers daily and will integrate with the Green Line BRT system. The board termed the initiative a major step towards cleaner and more efficient urban mobility in Sindh.
Karachi Port-Qayyumabad elevated expressway
The board also approved the construction of a 16.5 km, four-lane elevated freight expressway connecting Karachi Port (East Wharf) to Jam Sadiq Interchange at Qayyumabad. The project will shorten travel distance by 26 kilometres, minimise congestion on city roads, and improve connectivity between the port, Shahrah-e-Bhutto, and M-9 Motorway.
The CM directed the PPP Board to expedite paperwork so that the project’s groundbreaking could be held soon. The project includes a 10-year minimum revenue guarantee from the Sindh government. Design adjustments were approved for alignment with the Yellow Line BRT and to minimise land acquisition.
Read: Punjab launches interest-free loan scheme for high-tech farm machinery
The board also reviewed the 10th-year revised operational budget of the Sindh Government Children’s Hospital, North Karachi, amounting to Rs738.65 million, with an additional Rs95.12 million in capital expenditure for its final contract year. The revisions were approved to ensure continued quality healthcare delivery.
Carbon credits for sale
To combat climate change and restore Sindh’s riverine forests, the board approved a 41,000-hectare afforestation project in Jamshoro and Matiari under PPP mode. The project is expected to generate 35-40 million carbon credits for sale in international markets, fetching valuable foreign exchange.
The board authorised the Forest Department to issue award letters to successful bidders in three packages and approved engaging the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for a feasibility study on a new 88,000-hectare riverine forestry project.
These initiatives, the CM said, reflect Sindh’s growing reliance on sustainable partnerships to modernise infrastructure, strengthen public services, and address environmental challenges.
