ISLAMABAD – World Bank will invest $10 billion in social sectorinfrastructure network in Sindh. These projects will include funding forurban development in Karachi and for rural Sindh as well. The proposedprojects will be finalized by the World Bank and Sindh Government-relateddepartments.
An 11-member delegation led by World Bank’s country director PatchamuthuIllangovan met with Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah at the CMHouse, Karachi. The meeting was attended by provincial ministers, SaeedGhani, Ismail Rahu, Syed Sardar Shah, Imtiaz Shaikh, CM Adviser on LawMurtaza Wahab, Chief Secretary Mumtaz Shah and concerned provincialsecretaries.
World Bank has decided to fund these projects throughout Sindh:
Karachi Neighborhood Improvement project: This project will cost $86million. The provincial government will finance $14 million initially tostart off the project.
Three other projects were also discussed. These include Karachi UrbanManagement (KUM) which will cost $200 million, Karachi Urban Mobility (for$400 million) and one for improving Karachi Water and Sewerage Board ($640million). These three projects need some provincial government approvalsand a finalized investment plan in order to start work on them.
KUM Project: The objective of this project is to enhance urban managementservice delivery of KMC and DMCs. The proposal discussed ways to provideperformance-linked grants to six DMCs and KMC for local levelinfrastructure and municipal services. A capital development grant wasproposed for KMC for flood management and rehabilitation of urban drainageinfrastructure.
Institutional development and capacity building of KMC and DMCs was alsodiscussed. On this, the chief minister said that he has already announcedto hand over recovery of property tax to KMC and DMCs.
The chief minister directed Chairman P&D Mohammad Waseem to call a jointmeeting of local bodies and secretary local government to finalize the KUMProject so that necessary recommendations could be approved.
The meeting also decided to conduct a fresh property survey in the city ofKarachi and then in the other districts.
Karachi Urban Mobility project is aimed at improving urban mobility,accessibility and road safety in Karachi. Under the project, WB willconstruct Yellow Line corridor, including the development of infrastructurerehabilitation and BRTs.
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Rehabilitation of Karachi Water and Sewerage (KSSI) is $1.6 billionproject. With this project, KWSB will deliver safe and reliable water andsewerage services and encourage the private sector investments in watersupply and wastewater treatment.
Under the project, there would be institutional reforms in KWSB whichinclude reforms in customer service, HR, operational capacity, billing andcollection etc. Through the project 10 katchi abadis would also be providedwith water.
Sindh Human Capital Development project will improve delivery andutilization of health, nutrition, population, education and socialprotection services to support women and girls to invest in human capitalin rural and underserved targeted areas of the province.
The world bank has proposed $400 million for skill and employment training,secondary and second-chance education, early childhood developmentinterventions.
Sindh Water & Agriculture Transformation & Climate Resilience projectwill transform water management and agriculture production. The proposedcost of the project is $450 million. The world bank has proposed to invest$ 300 million and the provincial government share would be $150 million.
The world bank has proposed Rs 150 million for Transformation andRevitalisation of the Fisheries Sectors (TRFS). The goal of the project isto transform and revitalize fisheries and aquaculture by improvingmanagement and competitiveness.
The project would introduce sustainable management systems, includingspatial planning, vessel registration and licensing and data management.
Sindh Jobs and Competitiveness (SJ&C) is a $400 million project. Thisproject aims to improve the business environment and economiccompetitiveness to generate new investment and employment opportunities.
