KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Friday chaired the 48th Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Policy Board meeting at the CM House, approving several landmark infrastructure and sustainability projects — including the procurement of 500 electric buses for Karachi and Hyderabad, an elevated expressway linking Karachi Port to Qayyumabad, and major forestation and technology park initiatives.
The meeting was attended by provincial ministers, the chief secretary, and senior officials from the Planning and Development Board, PPP Unit, and Transport Department.
Under the Peoples Green Transport Project, the board approved the introduction of 500 electric buses to be deployed in phases, supported by charging depots, bus shelters, and an automatic fare collection and intelligent transport system. The project, with a 12-year concession period, is expected to serve over 200,000 passengers daily, integrating with the Green Line BRT to enhance urban mobility. The board termed it a major milestone toward clean, modern, and efficient public transport in Sindh.
The meeting also approved a riverine forestation project spanning 41,000 hectares in Jamshoro and Matiari districts to restore Sindh’s forest cover and mitigate climate change impacts. The initiative is projected to generate 35–40 million carbon credits, which will be monetized in international carbon markets, earning valuable foreign exchange. Additionally, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) will conduct a feasibility study for an expanded forestation project over 88,000 hectares.
Another key decision included the approval of a concession agreement for the NED Science & Technology Park, to be established within NED University. The green building project — the first university-based science and technology park in Pakistan — will be executed under a government-to-government (G2G) PPP arrangement with Enertech Holding Company, a subsidiary of the Kuwait Investment Authority, with the agreement expected to be signed by end of October 2025.
The PPP Board reaffirmed its commitment to promoting innovative, sustainable, and investor-friendly projects aimed at transforming Sindh’s transportation, environment, and technology sectors.
