The Sindh government has marked three significant milestones through Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) with Kuwait’s EnerTech Holding Company, launching initiatives in water supply, technology, and wastewater management with a collective investment exceeding $740 million.
At a ceremony held at the CM House, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah stated that his administration is establishing new benchmarks in infrastructure, energy, and environmental sustainability, according to a statement issued from the Sindh CM House today.
The event commemorated the Commercial Operations Date (COD) of the Nabisar-Vajihar Water Supply Project, the execution of the concession agreement for the NED Science and Technology Park, and the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the TP-IV Wastewater Treatment Project.
The chief minister described these initiatives as a reflection of Sindh’s ‘firm commitment to infrastructure development, energy security, innovation, environmental sustainability, and effective public-private collaboration.’ The ceremony was attended by provincial ministers, senior officials, diplomats, and representatives from EnerTech.
A $215 Million Water Lifeline for Thar Coal
Termed a landmark achievement, the $215 million Nabisar-Vajihar Water Supply Project will provide a sustainable 45 cusecs of water to Thar coal power facilities. ‘This project ensures a reliable and sustainable water supply to Thar coal power projects, directly supporting 1,650 megawatts of power generation and contributing to a reduction in the national cost of electricity,’ Mr Shah explained.
He noted that while Sindh holds the world’s sixth-largest coal reserves in Thar, water availability had been a major challenge. The government consciously avoided using scarce river water, instead developing this alternative solution. The chief minister claimed that ‘the cheapest electricity in the world is being produced from Thar coal.’
Despite global economic headwinds, the project’s successful completion was hailed as a testament to the stakeholders” resilience. Mr Shah commended EnerTech CEO Mr Abdullah Al Mutairi for finishing the project on time and achieving cost savings of over Rs7 billion.
Pakistan’s First PPP-Based University Tech Park
Another milestone was the execution of the concession agreement for the NED Science and Technology Park, which Mr Shah identified as Pakistan’s first university-based science and technology park under the PPP model. With an estimated cost of $125 million, the initiative aims to foster research commercialisation, start-up incubation, and industry-academia collaboration.
‘Anchored at NED University, this project will position Sindh as a hub for the knowledge-based economy and create high-value employment opportunities,’ the chief minister stated. He remarked that after facing previous regulatory hurdles, the project was now final and urged EnerTech to complete it at the fastest possible pace, promising facilities comparable to Silicon Valley. ‘After the establishment of the technology park, our young engineers will no longer need to go abroad for opportunities,’ he added.
$400M+ Wastewater Project for Karachi
Addressing environmental concerns, the chief minister detailed the TP-IV Wastewater Treatment Project, a joint venture between the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation and EnerTech with an estimated cost exceeding $400 million. He described it as the largest initiative of its kind in the city, designed to tackle a long-standing gap in Karachi”s wastewater management.
‘This project will ensure environmentally compliant wastewater treatment while providing industrial-grade water to Karachi’s industries – a milestone that has remained unachieved at both provincial and federal levels until now,’ Mr Shah said.
Broader PPP Success and Political Context
The chief minister credited the PPP leadership of President Asif Ali Zardari and Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari for the province”s success in this sector, noting that Sindh’s PPP unit has gained international recognition.
Responding to critics, he acknowledged serious urban challenges in Karachi due to unplanned population growth but affirmed his commitment to resolving them. ‘These problems were not created by me, but I take responsibility for resolving them and am making every effort to do so,’ he maintained.
EnerTech Chief Praises Sindh’s PPP Framework
Speaking at the event, EnerTech Holding Company CEO, Abdullah Al-Mutairi, lauded the Sindh government for its strong institutional support, stating it was crucial for the timely completion of the Nabisar-Vajihar project. He described Sindh’s PPP Unit as ‘one of the finest institutional frameworks’ playing a pivotal role in the province’s socio-economic development.
Mr Al-Mutairi termed Chief Minister Shah a visionary leader and reaffirmed EnerTech’s commitment to its partnership with the Government of Sindh to deliver high-impact infrastructure projects.