Sindh’s Forest & Wildlife Department is launching a large-scale afforestation initiative under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. It covers 34,995 hectares of riverine forest land in Matiari and Jamshoro districts. The goal is to develop afforestation, reforestation, and revegetation (ARR) projects that generate and sell Sindh PPPs carbon credits in international carbon markets. Moreover, the land is divided into three parcels, with separate Request for Proposal (RFP) documents designated as Packages 1, 2, and 3. These packages cover 13,259.6 ha, 11,772.2 ha, and 9,963.2 ha, respectively. The initiative aligns with global carbon reduction goals and Sindh’s environmental sustainability strategy. Consequently, this approach creates investment opportunities. The 44-year concession period ensures long-term sustainability, while competitive bidding under Sindh’s procurement framework enhances transparency.
Climate Change and Pakistan’s Role
Human activities primarily drive climate change by emitting carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases. This problem is among the world’s biggest challenges. Furthermore, billions of tons of CO2 enter the atmosphere yearly due to coal, oil, and gas production. As a result, glaciers and ice sheets melt at an alarming rate, causing sea levels to rise.
Pakistan ranks 135th in per capita GHG emissions. However, it remains among the 10 most vulnerable countries to climate change. Severe monsoons in 2022 and prolonged heatwaves exceeding 38°C caused serious health and environmental risks. Additionally, by 2035–2044, around 5 million people may face extreme river floods annually. By 2070–2100, 1 million more could experience coastal flooding. To address these risks, Pakistan has introduced climate policies and action plans.
Sindh’s Forest Restoration Initiative
The Forest & Wildlife Department launched a pilot project to restore Sindh’s Riverine Forest. This effort aims to reduce climate change effects and greenhouse gas emissions. Sindh contains 660,584 hectares of forest land, covering 4.6% of its total area. Due to past mismanagement, tree growth in declared forests dropped below 21%. The Sindh Forest Department manages 3.426 million acres of reserved and protected forests. Its key objectives include:
- Expanding forest cover on state-owned lands.
- Restoring forest productivity for wood production and ecosystem health.
- Promoting environmental stability and biodiversity conservation.
- Encouraging tree planting through social forestry programs.
Types of Forested Land in Sindh
Sindh’s forests include:
- Riverine forests: 0.595 million acres along the Indus River.
- Irrigated plantations: 0.202 million acres in Guddu, Sukkur, and Kotri Barrage areas.
- Rangelands: 1.129 million acres in Thar and Kohistan regions.
- Mangrove forests: 1.5 million acres along the coastline.
Project Scope and Advisory Team
The Forest & Wildlife Department will conduct a feasibility study and hire transaction advisory services. The goal is to restore Riverine Forests under a PPP model. The project develops and sells Sindh PPPs carbon credits internationally. The pilot area covers 43,740 hectares (108,068 acres).
At its 38th meeting on October 26, 2022, the PPP Policy Board approved Project Development Facility (PDF) funding. This funding supports feasibility and transaction advisory services. Following a transparent procurement process, the Forest & Wildlife Department selected a consultancy team. The lead consultant is EMC Pakistan Pvt. Ltd. (environmental/technical). Other members include ECCIDE Consultancy (technical), EY Ford Rhodes (financial), and Haidermota & Co. (legal).
Bidding Process and Timelines
The procurement follows an international, competitive single-stage, two-envelope bidding format. Additionally, interested parties can bid for one or multiple RFP packages. Only one bid per package is allowed. Bidders must submit both Technical and Financial Proposals using the prescribed formats. Moreover, digital submission is mandatory through the Sindh Public Procurement Regulatory Authority’s (SPPRA) e-Pak Acquisition & Disposal System (EPADS). Physical submissions are not accepted.
The deadline for bid submission is April 30, 2025, at 12:00 PM PST. Technical Proposals will be opened on the same day at 1:00 PM PST at the Planning & Development Board in Karachi. Only technically qualified bids will advance to the Financial Proposal evaluation.
A Bid Security of PKR 100 million must be submitted as an irrevocable, unconditional, and on-demand bank guarantee. Furthermore, the original Bid Security must be delivered physically before the deadline. The Sindh government may modify or cancel the bidding process, adjust project scope, or revise timelines. Updates will be communicated through official channels. RFP documents can be requested in writing or downloaded from SPPRA EPADS and the PPP Unit’s website.
Conclusion
This initiative highlights the importance of PPPs in climate resilience and sustainable development. Similar afforestation projects worldwide have generated millions of carbon credits, benefiting both governments and private investors. In Pakistan, this project aligns with Sindh’s PPP framework, recognized for its success in infrastructure and environmental projects. By leveraging private expertise, Sindh aims to adopt best practices in forest conservation, carbon sequestration, and green investments. As a result, this initiative could pave the way for more PPP-driven climate action across Pakistan.
The bidding documents for the project may be accessed and downloaded through the Public-Private Partnership Unit, Finance Department, Government of Sindh. Follow the link: http://tiny.cc/FWLD.
