Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has greenlit a major overhaul of the province's Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Unit, ordering its conversion into a private limited company. The move, announced after a high-level meeting at the CM House, aims to create a more autonomous and commercially agile entity to drive the next phase of development. Main Developments Chaired by Shah on Wednesday, the meeting included key officials such as Special Assistant on Investment Syed Qasim Naveed, Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah, and Planning and Development Board Chairman Najam Shah. Attendees were briefed that Sindh's PPP program has become Pakistan's leading sub-national initiative, with a growing portfolio spanning roads, bridges, transport, economic zones, IT, energy, water, livestock, education, health, and environment. The chief minister directed that the institutional transformation proceed to remove operational bottlenecks, retain specialized professionals, and ensure continuity in project development. He stressed the need for a robust structure capable of providing timely technical, financial, and legal support to departments and implementing agencies. Read also: 3 Reasons PPP Claims It Will Win Azad Kashmir Polls Despite Tensions with PML-N Background Sindh's PPP program has earned international recognition at platforms including the UNECE PPP Forum and The Asset Infrastructure Awards. In 2018, The Economist ranked it sixth in Asia. The PPP Unit has also provided technical and legal support to other provinces for strengthening their own PPP frameworks and project structuring. The existing unit faces challenges in retaining skilled staff due to limited competitive compensation and incentives. The absence of dedicated project implementation units and project directors in certain departments has also affected the pace and quality of project delivery, according to the briefing. Why It Matters The restructuring into a private limited company will give the PPP Unit greater commercial flexibility to undertake strategic activities, make equity investments, mobilize capital through financial instruments, and support project financing. It will also develop diversified revenue streams beyond government funding, subject to board approval and oversight. This shift is expected to improve administrative efficiency, facilitate innovative financing, enhance investor confidence, and accelerate the delivery of development projects across Sindh. The chief minister emphasized that the company must operate with robust governance, transparent performance reviews, and clear statutory oversight. What's Next The chief minister directed that the new structure should strengthen PPP nodes in provincial departments, empower competent officers, and ensure projects are processed efficiently without compromising accountability. The meeting concluded with a commitment to establish a capable, sustainable, and responsive PPP institution that contributes meaningfully to Sindh's progress and prosperity.