KARACHI: The Sindh government has decided to establish modern inspection centres to ensure fitness of commercial vehicles across the province under the public-private partnership (PPP) mode.

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah took the decision while chairing the 52nd meeting of the PPP Policy Board here at the CM House on Friday.

According to a press statement, the meeting deliberated upon and approved a wide range of strategic infrastructure, education, transport, technology and industrial development projects aimed at accelerating Sindh’s socio-economic growth through public-private partnerships.

The meeting was attended by provincial ministers Sharjeel Inam Memon, Nasir Shah, Jam Khan Shoro, Ismail Rahu and Ziaul Hassan Lanjar, CM’s Special Assistant Qasim Naveed, MPAs Ghulam Qadir Chandio and Qasim Soomro, Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah and others.

Public-Private Partnership Board approves successful bidder for construction of corridor from Karachi Port to Qayumabad

The meeting was informed that faulty vehicles were causing environmental pollution and accidents and the current fitness system lacked monitoring and inspection.

The participants were told that the new centres, to be established in cooperation with the private sector, would have a digital system under which online appointments could be made for inspection.

An awareness campaign regarding mobile vehicle inspection facility will also be part of the project.

The CM said that this project would improve road safety and environmental standards. He termed it a significant step to enhance performance of commercial vehicles.

The PPP policy board approved competitive bidding for selection of investors from private sector to set up vehicle inspection centres.

Project to strengthen teacher education

The 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, particularly for four-year B.Ed programmes being offered in 30 Teacher Training Institutes across the province.

The board was informed that 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 educators adapted to Pakistan’s context.

The board approved the concept proposal and authorised utilisation of the existing consortium of transaction advisers already engaged by the Sindh Technical Education & Vocational Training Authority (STEVTA) for conducting due diligence and transaction advisory services for the project.

NED Science & Technology Park

The 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 conditions.

Officials presented alternative structuring options in case the STZ status is not granted. The board was informed that under one 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.

Karachi Port to Qayumabad corridor project

The board approved key decisions regarding a major elevated corridor connecting Karachi Port to Jam Sadiq Interchange near Qayumabad. The 16.5-kilometre 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. Following the technical and financial evaluation, a firm emerged as the lowest evaluated bidder.

The board approved the consortium as the successful bidder and authorised the executing agency to sign concession agreements and financing instruments.

‘PPP projects in Sindh gain international recognition’

The CM said that four public-private partnership projects in Sindh 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, he said.

The selected projects included the Teachers Training Institute (TTI), Shahrah-i-Bhutto Expressway, Education Management Organisations (EMOs) and Carbon Emission Reduction through Forestation.

The meeting was told that Sindh’s TTI 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.

Published in Dawn, May 9th, 2026