Sindh CM Presides Over 50th PPP Policy Board Meeting; Major Projects Cleared for Education, Transport and Ecotourism

KARACHI: Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah presided over the 50th meeting of the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Policy Board at CM House, approving a wide-ranging set of development initiatives spanning education, transport, ecotourism and industrial growth across Sindh.

The high-level meeting was attended by senior provincial ministers and officials, where several transformative projects were cleared under the PPP framework.

Driver Training Schools Across Sindh

In a major step toward improving road safety, professional standards and overseas employability, the Board approved the establishment of Heavy Transport Vehicle (HTV) and Light Transport Vehicle (LTV) Driver Training Schools across Sindh.

The initiative follows the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2025, which makes pre-licensing training mandatory for HTV and LTV applicants.

Training centres will initially be set up at four institutions under Sindh Technical Education and Vocational Training Authority:

Government College of Technology (SITE), Karachi
Government Polytechnic College, Dadu
Government Vocational Training Institute, Sukkur
Government Institute of Business and Commercial Education, Naushero Feroze

Larger facilities are also planned in Karachi to meet high demand.

Each centre will provide a complete training-to-licensing model including:

Multimedia classrooms
Computer-based theory labs
HTV and LTV simulators
On-road practical training
On-site licensing desks

The program aims to train and license 100,000 drivers over five years, strengthening Sindh’s contribution to the global driver workforce market.

Education Sector Transformation

The Board approved adoption of the Education Management Organisation (EMO) model for the $385 million Sindh Secondary Education Improvement Project (SSEIP), supported by the Asian Development Bank.

Under this initiative:

40 newly constructed secondary schools will be operated through private sector partners.
Private partner solicitation process has been authorized.
Previous EMO projects recorded a 38% increase in girls’ enrolment.

Additionally, the Board approved:

Solar power and improved WASH facilities for off-grid girls’ schools.
Feasibility studies for Early Childhood Education (ECE) centres in 300 model schools, expected to benefit approximately 24,000 students annually.

Ecotourism in Forest Areas

To promote climate-resilient and nature-based tourism, the Board approved feasibility studies for regulated ecotourism projects in selected forest areas across Sindh.

The project, proposed by the Sindh Forest & Wildlife Department, will cover approximately 6,010 acres of irrigated plantation forests and mangrove areas near Karachi.

Proposed eco-friendly facilities include:

Walking and cycling tracks
Boating and wildlife attractions
Birdwatching towers
Picnic and BBQ areas
Waste management systems
Prayer areas and play zones

Officials stated that the initiative will generate employment for local communities, especially youth and women, while ensuring biodiversity conservation and sustainable forest management.

Marble City Karachi Fast-Tracked

The Board also reviewed progress on Marble City Karachi, a 300-acre industrial estate dedicated to marble and granite industries.

Key features include:

201 acres reserved for industrial use
30% plots earmarked for marble and granite enterprises
99 acres allocated for commercial spaces, amenities, roads and green areas

The Board approved water connection charges to KWSC to accelerate project completion. Construction began in April 2025 and is expected to be completed within two years.

Government’s Commitment

Concluding the meeting, the Chief Minister reiterated the Sindh government’s commitment to leveraging private sector efficiency under the PPP model to deliver high-quality public services and infrastructure across the province.