ISLAMABAD: The World Bank approved on Wednesday a $300 million grant fortwo projects in Pakistan, including the Sindh Resilience Project and SolidWaste Emergency and Efficiency Project.

The bank’s Board of Executive Directors approved the $200 million SindhResilience Project Additional Financing and $100 million Solid WasteEmergency and Efficiency Project (SWEEP).

Najy Benhassine, World Bank Country Director for Pakistan in a statementsaid: “Building resilience to natural disasters and health emergencies isan important and urgent agenda in Pakistan, that will help save lives andprotect the economy.”

“The debilitating impact of recent floods in Karachi, droughts and extremerainfall in Sindh, and of course the COVID-19 pandemic, make it imperativethat risk reduction investments strengthen multi-sectoral dialogue andcoordination at the city, provincial, and national levels to ensureprotections for vulnerable communities and fight the spread of disease.”

The Sindh Resilience Project will strengthen linkages between disaster riskmanagement and the health sector by establishing the Sindh EmergencyService to strengthen capacity for disaster preparedness and emergencyresponse, including health crises such as COVID-19.

The project also improves irrigation infrastructure to protect vulnerablecommunities living in rural areas, which will directly benefit 750,000citizens in drought-prone areas of Kirthar range hills and the Nagarparkarregion in the Tharparkar District.