KARACHI: The Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Policy Board of the Sindh government on Tuesday approved the outsourcing of 750 public schools across the province to private parties under a 10-year agreement.

Presiding over the 53rd meeting of the board, Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah also approved a revised joint venture model for Dhabeji Special Economic Zone (SEZ), bridge financing of Rs2 billion for the Ghotki-Kandhkot Bridge and several initiatives to strengthen Karachi’s infrastructure, expand industrial investment and introduce modern digital facilities.

According to an official statement, the board approved outsourcing of 750 schools under the Sindh Secondary Education Improvement Project (SSEIP), the Sindh Early Learning Enhancement through Classroom Transformation (SELECT) programme and the Peoples Schools initiative.

The programme covers 453 SSEIP schools, including 401 under additional financing and 52 under original financing, 295 SELECT schools and two English-medium Peoples Schools.

Over 188,000 students studying in 750 schools with combined capacity of 345,940, meeting told

The private operators will be responsible for teachers’ salaries, non-teaching staff, operational expenses, uniforms, stationery and other essential services, while the government will provide the funding.

The 750 schools have a combined capacity of 345,940 students, against a current enrolment of 188,852, offering considerable potential to expand access to quality education.

The board also approved the constitution of a Technical and Financial Evaluation Committee and the initiation of open national competitive bidding through the e-PADS platform, using the Quality and Cost-Based Selection.

It may be noted that the province had introduced the Education Management Organisation (EMO) model in 2015 under the Sindh PPP Act 2010, starting with 106 USAID-rebuilt schools after the 2010 floods.

Initiatives for Karachi

The board considered key matters relating to the 16.5-kilometre Karachi Port to Qayumabad corridor, an access-controlled, four-lane expressway connecting Shahrah-i-Bhutto with Karachi Port’s East Wharf.

For Shahrah-i-Bhutto Expressway, the board approved riverbank protection works, including submerged groynes, an additional loop and ramp at Interchange No. 5 at Memon Goth, and street lighting along designated sections.

The board approved the concept of a multi-level Karachi Development Authority (KDA) Parking Plaza near Ziauddin Hospital, Clifton Block-2.

The proposed facility will be developed on a 1,352-square-yard KDA-owned plot and provide 96 car parking spaces and 160 motorcycle spaces, along with limited commercial facilities.

The board also approved the inclusion of an assessment of 41 additional KDA-owned parking sites across Clifton blocks 1 to 7 and 9 in the transaction advisers’ scope, for possible development under the PPP framework.

The board also approved the concept of the proposed Karachi Financial Centre, aimed at strengthening Karachi’s position as a regional financial and investment hub.

The initiative seeks to attract domestic and international investment in financial services, infrastructure, energy, housing and technology. Funding from the project development facility (PDF) was approved to engage transaction advisers for a comprehensive feasibility study and development of the transaction structure.

The board approved the proposed PPP structure for establishing and operating the Sindh Institute of Teacher Education, Karachi, through a proposal submitted by M/s Durbeen.

The degree-awarding institution will focus on improving teacher education, educational leadership, research-based learning, modern teaching practices and professional development of faculty.

Dhabeji SEZ and other schemes

The board approved a revised transaction structure for Dhabeji SEZ, replacing the earlier build-operate-transfer model with a joint venture between the provincial government, through Sindh Economic Zones Management Company (SEZMC), and private investors.

The project covers approximately 1,171 acres of saleable land, including 1,071 acres for industrial activities and 100 acres for commercial use. Development is planned in two phases over 36 months.

The board approved the project concept for developing Keti Bandar into an integrated maritime, industrial, logistics and energy hub.

It also approved funding through the PDF to engage transaction advisers for detailed feasibility studies and preparation of a bankable PPP structure, paving the way for private-sector participation.

Reviewing the Ghotki-Kandhkot bridge project, the chief minister examined construction, financial closure, additional works and pending clearances from the National Highway Authority.

The board ratified the chairman’s approval of a Rs2bn bridge financing facility to maintain construction activities until commercial debt financing becomes available. The board approved the transaction structure for the Sukkur Water Supply Project, paving the way for seeking investors under the PPP framework.

Based on an estimated population of structure for the Sukkur Water Supply Project, paving the way for seeking investors under the PPP framework.

Based on an estimated population of 608,095 in 2026, water demand is projected to rise from the current 30 million gallons per day to 32 MGD in 2029 and 41 MGD by 2048.

The board meeting was attended, among others, by provincial ministers Syed Nasir Hussain Shah, Syed Sardar Shah and Jam Khan Shoro, Sindh Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah, MPAs Ghulam Qadir Chandio and Qasim Siraj Soomro, special assistants Syed Qasim Naveed and Muhammad Ali Rashid, Chairman Planning & Development Board Najam Shah and senior member Board of Revenue Khalid Hyder Shah.

Published in Dawn, November 11th, 2026