KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister (CM) Syed Murad Ali Shah in his meeting with Asian Development Bank (ADB) delegation led by its Director General, Werner E. Leipach, discussed different projects such as Economic Progress and Challenges, Karachi BRT, strengthening Public Private Partnership (PPP) Unit, education project and second Sindh Provincial roads project and agreed to launch them after completion of necessary documentation.
Those who attended the meeting, include Chairman P&D Mohammad Waseem, Principal Secretary to CM Sajid Jamal Abro, Secretary Education Qazi Shahid Pervez, Secretary Finance Najam Shah, Secretary Works Sajaad Abbasi, Secretary Transport Akhtar Ghori, Director General PPP Unit Khalid Shaikh. The ADB delegation members were Country Director Xiaohong Yang, Sana Masood, Financial Sector Specialist and Shahid Mahoom Executive Director.
Sindh CM said that BRT Red Line was the most important project and he wants to start it from the next financial year. The technical assistance provided by ADB has been firmed up its proposal.
The ADB has provided a project development assistance of $9.7 million to improve Urban Transport system (UTS) of Karachi. Apart from technical and financial support, the ADB supports to implement Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridors and strengthen institutions and organizations.
The ADB has also provided Technical Assistance to build upon the feasibility studies for priority BRT corridors undertaken by JICA.
The Red Line BRT project based on the detail studies has been developed. The corridor length is 29.1km with at grade section 26.3km and elevated section 0.8km and underground 1.9km.
The alignment of the Red Line project will be Numaish to Khudabad Colony via Shahrah-e-Quaideen traverses through Kashmir Road, Peoples Secretariat, new M.A Jinnah Road, Jail Chowrangi, Askari Park, Civic Center, University Road, Safoora Chowk, Malir Cantt, Gate No, 6, Tank Chowk and Finally ends at Malir Halt.
It would have 29 stations and 350,000 ridership per day. The system will have the capacity of 30,000 per person per hour per day. There would be a 217-bus fleet and project would cost Rs562.3 million.
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah and ADB DG discussed Sindh secondary Education Improvement Project $165 million. The project would support Sindh school education system and it has three components. Access to quality secondary education expanded, teaching and learning capacity improved and Secondary Education Examination (SEE) system improved. It will be a six-year project and would be implemented all over Sindh.
The PDWP has cleared the project last year and 105 schools have been selected. Its phase-I would be launched from next financial year.
The chief minister along with his team discussed Rs41200 million 847 km long Sindh Provincial Roads, Phase-II project. Under this project, 19 roads will be reconstructed. The are 17-km Mehran Highway (MHW) of Khairpur from Sui Gas Chowk to Hingorja, 20-km Mehran Highway from Pacca Chang to Bhirya stop (N-5), 28-km N-5 Qazi Ahmed to Daur (MHW), 58 km Dokri to radhan via Badah with Link to Naseerabad (N-5), 80-km road from TM Khan to Sujawal via Bulri Shah karim, 67 km road from Hyderabad to Tando Ghulam Ali via Shaikh Bhirkyo with link to Chimbar, 40 kmroad from (n-5) Dadloi to Adilpur via Cheechro with Link to Pano Aqil via Rojo (Ghotki-Pano Aqil area), 60-km raod from Thul to Bahu Khoso with inks to Allahdad (border of Balochistan) and Garhi Bhutto, 38-km road from (N-5) to Khairpur-Larkanao via AHmedpur Ripri, 50-km raod from Shikarpur to Chak Jahankhan, 58 km raod from Shahdadkot to Ratodero via Mirokhan with link to Kambar, 45-km road from Shikarpur to Sukkur-Larkanao with link to Bado via Dhakan, 35-km road from Mirpur Mathelo to Khanpur with link to Hayat Pitafi to Jarwar (ghotki distt), 43-km road Matiari to Oderolal via Nasarpur and Odero Lal Station, 36-km raod from Thatta-Jhimpir via Satayoon Buradabad road upto Thatta-Hyderabad raod, 40-km road frommithi to Diplo, 60-km raod from Talhar to Digri via Tando bago, 37-km road from Idus Highway to rani Kot upto Meeri Kot with bridges, 35-km road from Thul to Jacobabad via Sanhri Sarak.
The infrastructure and social service needs of Sindh exceed the provincial public resources available. To address the significant infrastructure requirements in an efficient, cost-effective manner and to enable further private participation in delivering infrastructure service, the Sindh government sought ADB assistance to expand and improve Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) in Sindh.
The project is estimated at $184.13 million where ADB and Sindh government would share the cost. The share 35 per cent cost of the project.
Under the project overall PPP, unit would be strengthened, including developing a capacity building of the officers, suggesting necessary amendment in the PPP law and such other reforms would be introduced.