Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, during the 45th meeting of the Public Private Partnership Policy (PPPP) Board, approved major initiatives aimed at infrastructure development and environmental conservation. The CM greenlit a project to construct a new expressway, connecting Karachi Port Terminal to Jam Sadiq Bridge, where the Malir Expressway begins. This strategic move is expected to enhance connectivity and ease traffic flow in the city. In addition to the expressway, Murad Ali Shah also decided to launch extensive afforestation efforts along the River Indus in the districts of Jamshoro and Matiari, covering a vast area of 34,995 hectares.
The afforestation initiative will be complemented by reforestation activities spanning 88,022 hectares across the riverine areas in seven districts of Sindh. These environmental projects will be executed through a Public Private Partnership (PPP) model, aiming to bolster the region’s ecological balance and contribute to sustainable development. The meeting, held at CM House, was attended by key provincial ministers including Dr. AzraPechuho, Nasir Shah, Saeed Ghani, and Zia Lanjar. Other notable attendees included Advisor Livestock NajmiAlam, Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah, Advocate General Hassan Akbar, PSCM Agha Wasif, VC NED Dr. SaroshLodhi, Asif Brohi, and various provincial secretaries.
The gathering underscored the government’s commitment to advancing infrastructure while prioritizing environmental conservation in Sindh. At the outset of the meeting, the CM said that World Wildlife Fund reported in 2017 that Pakistan was a forest-poor country, with less than six per cent (6pc) of its total area as opposed to a minimum of 25pc. He added that we were facing severe climatic conditions due to climate change. “The floods in 2022 are an example of the risks which it faces,” he said, adding that enhancing forest cover would improve the province’s resilience in meeting such challenges.
The CM said that our Sindh Forest Department (SFD) has successfully undertaken Delta Blue Carbon projects, it improved mangrove cover and also brought in revenues through a carbon credit mechanism. He directed the forest deptThe objective is to undertake ARR activities over 100,000 acres of identified forest land. The Forest Department has informed the Chief Minister that it has identified 34,995 hectares in the Riverine area of Matiari and Jamshoro districts for various purposes. This includes reforestation on 2,674 hectares, an access road area of 694.63 hectares, 188.7 hectares for settlements, 3,200 hectares of existing forest, and 6,757.36 hectares of other adjoining areas. The CM instructed the forest department to plant native species of trees such as Babul, Kandi, Bahan, and Neem, in addition to other trees.
The Chief Minister directed the Local Government department to finalize the proposal for the construction of another Expressway [nomenclature would be decided later) starting from KP Terminal to Jam Sadqi Bridge where Malir Expressway starts. “This expressway will help to give direct access to the Port traffic to the Motorway,” he said.
The CM directed the PPP Unit to finalize the proposal on the PPP Unit, otherwise, the provincial government would construct it from its resources. The Local Government Department (LGD) has proposed a solution to address traffic congestion issues and facilitate heavy traffic from Karachi port at the ICI bridge intersection. The proposal aims to provide quick and safe access to commuters from Mauripur Road to the Karachi Beach area by constructing the Mauripur Expressway and ICI Interchange on a PPP mode. The Mauripur Expressway will be eight kilometres long with two lanes in each direction, a toll plaza, and a weight bridge.
, there will be a one-kilometre, two-lane (one-way) interchange at the ICI bridge. The Consultant has suggested building an interchange at Lyari Flyover and Kakapir Flyover, as well as a proposed elevated U-turn. The chief minister also decided to launch reforestation over an area of 88,022 hectares for which the Asian Development Bank may be engaged as a transition advisor for the development of the project.Murad Shah directed the Forest & Wildlife Department to restore Riverine Forest on 88,022 hectares located in various districts.
At this, the forest dept told the CM that on his [CM] directives riverine districts – Shaheed Benazirabad, dadu, Naushehroferoze, Jamshoro, Khairpur, Larkana and Sukkur – have been identified where 88,002 hectares (217,502. 14 acres) reforestation would be carried out. The chief minister expressed his displeasure saying that the project has been delayed, therefore its entire process must be carried out at the earliest so that project could be launched.
