The Chief Minister of Sindh, Justice (Retd) Maqbool Baqar on Saturday, while presiding over 44th Public-Private Partnership (PPP) board meeting, approved an additional allocation of Rs 14.5 billion for the completion of extra work on the Malir Expressway. The meeting took place at the Chief Minister’s House.
The attendees included provincial ministers Makhdoom Jameel, Ashoor Lal, Omar Sumro, Chief Secretary Dr. Fakhr Alam, Chairman PPP Board Shaikh Mangnijo, Secretary Municipalities Mansoor Sheikh, SMBR Zahid Abbasi, Secretary Finance Kazim Jatoi, Secretary Irrigation Niaz Abbasi, Secretary Law Ali Ahmed Baloch, DG PPP Unit Asad Zaman, VC Sindh Infrastructure Development Company Dr. Surosh Lodhi, Asif Brohi, and others.
The PPP Policy Board acknowledged the detailed multi-layer verification process conducted by the department, affirming the additional work to be granted to the existing concessionaire through independent engineers and third-party engineering firm NESPAK. Concerns related to obtaining data for commercial operations were addressed, and the board expressed satisfaction that the issue had been resolved.
Emphasizing the need for further funding to enhance the beauty of the province, the Board stressed that the Sindh government should ensure additional funding availability. CM Sindh directed the Treasury Department to secure the required Rs 14.5 billion within two months to avoid any delays in the project’s completion. Furthermore, the CM Sindh instructed the Department of Municipalities to obtain final approval from the Sindh Cabinet for the recommendations of the PPP Policy Board. Secretary Municipalities Mansoor Sheikh informed the Board that the Department of Municipalities initiated the Malir Expressway project on July 31, 2019, under the Single Stage Two Envelope procurement method. The Board was informed that the construction work had commenced following the signing of the Concession Agreement on April 21, 2020.
The Commitment Certificate was issued on May 12, 2022, marking the beginning of construction activities. DG PPP Unit Asad Zaman highlighted that the first phase of the project, from Qayyumabad to Quaidabad, was initially scheduled to be completed by November 2023. However, challenges were faced when initiating construction work near Sammo, Lasi, and Shafiq Goth after Quaidabad. He added that Arif Fee, a consultant of RF&P, was working on these challenges. Regarding the areas of Murad Memon and Gaddap Town, he clarified that they essentially constitute the Ganjani population, and most of the Goth areas on the right side are regularized Goth.
The Board is considering an elevated option in this regard. Following the approval by the Policy Board and the immediate availability of the required funds, the project is anticipated to achieve its Commercial Operation Date (COD) by June 2025, with the possibility of commencing the first phase in the next three months.
