• Murad okayes G2G agreements for mega projects to be initiated on public-private partnership mode
• Minister Nasir Shah says DHA is willing to buy desalinated water

KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has approved multibillion-rupee projects of a desalination plant to provide potable water to the Defence Housing Authority (DHA) and construction of a17-storey technology park at the NED University of Engineering and Technology on a public-private partnership (PPP) mode.

Mr Shah chaired the 46th meeting of the PPP Policy Board, held on Friday at the CM House, where he was briefed on several important projects.

The meeting was told that the Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation (KWSC) was going to initiate a seawater desalination project to supply clean drinking water to the residents of Karachi as the project structure was already approved in the 40th meeting of the PPP Policy Board and the process to solicit investors began.

“This project will be procured under the design-build-finance-operate-transfer (DBFOT) model, allowing the private partner to finance it in exchange for availability and variable payments. The private partners are permitted to establish a facility with a higher capacity (up to 46 MGD) to enable surplus capacity sales for bottled water. This strategy aims to significantly reduce the overall tariff and enhance the project’s viability,” said a press release issued from the CM House after the meeting.

It said that a Kuwait-based company had expressed interest in installing the plant. Planning and Development Minister Nasir Shah informed the CM that the DHA authorities were willing to purchase desalinated water.

The CM approved the Government-to-Government (G2G) agreement and directed the local government department, the water utility, and the PPP unit to finalise the requirements and initiate the project.

NED Science & Technology Park

The CM was told that the NED Science and Technology Park is being established through a G2G arrangement with a Kuwaiti company.

He noted that he had already approved Rs1.7 billion as provincial government equity for the project.

The meeting was informed that following an aeronautical study, the Civil Aviation Authority issued a no-objection certificate for a 218-foot tall building.

The CM instructed the PPP Unit to finalise the concession agreement by the end of November and to commence construction. “I want the project completed within two years,” he said.

He stated that this would be the first fully integrated Science and Technology Park in Pakistan, located within the premises of the NED University on a PPP model.

The project scope includes constructing a building with three basements and 17 floors above the ground. The office spaces in the park will be sub-leased to technology companies, including large multinationals, SMEs, research companies, and startups.

The infrastructure will feature an auditorium, innovative workspaces, high-speed connectivity, research labs, tech incubators, cafes, etc.

Wastewater recycling project

The meeting was informed that a Kuwaiti company submitted an Expression of Interest (EoI) for a G2G arrangement for the installation and operation of the wastewater recycling project.

The CM was informed about the company’s extensive experience in wastewater treatment facilities, which would greatly benefit the project’s success.

The KWSC will supply recycled water to industries in SITE, ensuring the quality of recycled water meets their requirements.

The CM instructed the local government, industries, and PPP Unit to finalise the project with the company and initiate work promptly.

The meeting was informed that the Malir Expressway project would end approximately 500 meters before the existing two-lane Kathore interchange on the M9 motorway.

It was informed that the six-lane expressway would create traffic bottlenecks on the two-lane Kathore interchange and to mitigate these bottlenecks and operational issues, it was crucial to reconstruct, rehabilitate, and widen the Kathore interchange to accommodate the increased traffic volumes without delays.

A discussion was held with National Highway Authority (NHA) officials, and both sides recognised the need to upgrade the interchange.

The CM approved the appointment of a technical consultant to conduct necessary studies, enabling the local government department to provide the NHA with the required documentation.

Ghotki-Kandhkot Bridge

The CM was informed that construction on the Ghotki-Kandhkot Bridge began in August 2020, but construction activities were suspended on July 18, 2023 and resumed on May 2, 2024. The overall physical progress stands at 50 per cent.

The CM was informed that the NHA had issued a provisional NOC to connect the various approaches to N-5 (at-grade intersection) and N-55 (interchange at the main alignment and the at-grade intersection at the Thul Link Road).

The CM, in consultation with the PPP Policy Board, approved Rs2 bn for incremental mobilisation advances as an additional contribution from the Sindh government’s Viability Gap Funding.

The meeting was attended by provincial ministers Dr Azra Pechuho, Zia Lanjar, Sardar Shah, Ali Hassan Zardari, Jam Ikram Dharejo, Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah, MPAs Ghulam Qadir Chandio, Qasim Soomro and several others.

Published in Dawn, November 2nd, 2024