KARACHI: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has agreed to finance and support the Red Line Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project starting from Manghopir to Numaish areas.

A committee has been constituted to shape up the financial and technical support in this regard.

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Monday met an ADB delegation led by its Country Director Werner E. Liepach, and discussed enhancement of public-private partnership (PPP) on different projects.

Mr Shah said that with ADB’s support the Sindh government launched the PPP mode of procurement to ensure private sector’s participation in public sector projects.

To address the significant infrastructure requir­ements in an efficient, cost-effective manner and to enable further private partnership in delivering infrastructure services, the Sindh government has requested the ADB to help expand and improve PPP in the province.

Under the project, the ADB would support the provincial government to develop a more financially sustainable and fiscally responsible PPP project portfolio.

The chief minister and the ADB country director also discussed the $197.85 million Sindh Provincial Road Improvement Project under which six roads of 328 kilometres would be rehabilitated.

The ADB delegation comprised its Deputy Country Director Sunil Mitra, head of Portfolio Donneth Walton, and Head of Urban Unit Shaukat Shafi, said a statement issued on Monday.

The chief minister was assisted by Chief Secretary Rizwan Memon, and P&D Chairman M. Waseem, Secretary Finance Hassan Naqvi.

Published in Dawn, March 14th, 2017