PPP Policy board approves award of contract for construction of Malir Expressway.

KARACHI -- Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah presiding over 30thmeeting of Public Private Partnership (PPP) Policy Board decided to award contract to a consortium for construction of Malir Expressway for around Rs39 billion.

The meeting was attended by Chief Secretary Syed Mumtaz Shah, Minister Health Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho, Chairman P and D Mohammad Waseem, PSCM Sajid Jamal Abro, Secretary Finance Hassan Naqvi, Secretary Local Government Roshan Shaikh, Secretary Works Imran Atta Soomro, MD PPP Unit Khalid Shaikh, VC NED Dr Sarosh Lodhi and others.

The meeting was apprised that Malir Expressway project was initiated by Local government department under PPP mode. The Technical and Financial Evaluation Committee (TFEC) was constituted to conduct the procurement process for the project. The TFEC approved bidding documents under single stage procurement process. Advertisements were published in local and international newspapers on July 31, 2019. Three companies filed their bids and consortium of four companies was declared as successful bidders because of their lowest bid.

Malir Expressway: It will be a 38.75 km three into three-lane expressway along the Malir River starting from Korangi Creek Avenue (DHA) and ending at Karachi-Hyderabad Motorway 9M-9) near Kathore via existing link road. The expressway would provide speedy access, reducing the commuting time to only 25 minutes. It would have six interchanges.

Sindh Chief Minister said that the scope of the project covered Design, Build, Finance, Operates and maintenance. He added that the expressway on Malir River would facilitate thousands of commuters and heavy traffic of Karachi port, Korangi Industrial Area, Landhi Industrial Area, Steel Mills, Port Qasim and other such areas towards upcountry through the National and Super Highways.

The PPP Board accorded approval for issuance of `Letter of Award' to the wining bidder. The board also issued directives for clearing of Right of Way of Malir Exptessway and directed provincial law officer to follow up the Malir River Bed material lifting petition in the court on priority basis. The chief minister termed the decision as one of the historic and a great gift for people of...