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Karachi neighbourhood, urban management and mobility, agricultural development projects included on priority list among others
KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah and 11-member World Bank (WB) high-level delegation led by its Country Director Patchamuthu Illangovan discussed projects for Sindh worth $10 billion and formed plan of action to get clearance by the concerned departments.
The meeting was attended by provincial ministers including Saeed Ghani, Ismail Rahu, Syed Sardar Shah, Imtiaz Shaikh, CM Advisor on law Murtaza Wahab, Chief Secretary Mumtaz Shah and concerned provincial secretaries.
Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah said that his government’s policy is very clear. He is working for transforming governance economic growth, sustainable development and human capital development. “I am committed to achieving these goals through accountability to the core of government, encouragement of economic growth, liberalisation of the agriculture sector and through strengthening population management and early childhood development,” he said.
Several projects including Karachi Neighbourhood Improvement project worth $86 million, in which the provincial government has to put in $14 million to start the project, Karachi Urban Management (KUM), a $200 million project, Karachi Urban Mobility project worth $400 million, Karachi Water and Sewerage project worth $640 million also came under discussion. These three projects had needed some provincial government approvals and to finalise investment plan to start the project.
KARACHI URBAN MANAGEMENT PROJECT:
The World Bank has proposed $200 million for Karachi Urban Management Project. The chief minister said that the objective of the project is to enhance urban management service delivery of Karachi Metropolitan Corporation and other districts metropolitan corporation (DMCs).
The proposal is to provide performance-linked block grants to six DMCs and KMC for local level infrastructure and municipal services. A capital development grant was proposed for KMC for flood management and rehabilitation of urban drainage infrastructure.
The chief minister directed P&D Chairman Mohammad Waseem to call a joint meeting of local bodies and secretary local government to finalise the KUM Project so that necessary recommendation could be firm up for final approval.
KARACHI URBAN MOBILITY PROJECT:
The World Bank proposed $400 million for Karachi Urban Mobility. The project is aimed at improving urban mobility, accessibility and road safety in Karachi. Under the project, the WB would construct Yellow Line corridor, including the development of infrastructure rehabilitation and BRTs construction system.
The chief minister approved the project and directed P&D chairman and Transport secretary to move forward with the project by completing all the required formalities and also sends the concept paper to Economic Affairs Division.
SINDH WATER & AGRICULTURE TRANSFORMATION & RESILIENCE PROJECT:
The goal of Sindh Water & Agriculture Transformation & Climate Resilience project is transforming water management and agriculture production towards higher levels of water productivity and improve climate resilience. The WB has proposed $300 million and the provincial government share would be $150 million.
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah said that under project rehabilitation of canal system on the right of Dadu and Rice Canal and on the left bank of Akram wah, Ghotki Feeder and the Fulleli system would be made. He also added that under the project advance irrigation reforms have been proposed and masterplans for the monitoring system of right bank barrages would also be evolved.
TRANSFORMATION AND REVITALISATION OF THE FISHERIES SECTOR PROJECT:
Transformation and Revitalisation of the Fisheries Sectors (TRFS) will cost about Rs150 million. The chief minister said that the goal of the project was to transform and revitalize fisheries and aquaculture by improving management, competitiveness and community.
The project would introduce sustainable management systems, including spatial planning, vessel registration and licensing and data management. The chief minister said that under the project private sector participation would be incentivized and would build value chains. He added that the project also aims at improving nutritional food security and livelihoods for women and families and strengthening institutions.
SINDH JOB AND COMPETITIVENESS PROJECT:
The World Bank has proposed $400 million for Sindh Jobs and Competitiveness (SJ&C) project. The chief minister said that this project was aimed at improving the business environment and economic competitiveness to generate new investment and employment opportunities.
Under this project investment climate and doing business indicators would be developed.
The chief minister and the World Bank country chief and his team discussed each and every project at length and finally decided to take them up at Planning & development Department level to complete their formalities so that they could be cleared from the local forms and for final approval of world bank.
The world bank Pakistan chief Patchamuthu Illangovan told the meeting that his bank was ready to further enhance and strengthen their partnership with the provincial government.
KSSI PROJECT
The WB has proposed $1.6 billion for the said proposal. Murad Ali Shah talking about the project said that it was aimed at supporting KWSB to deliver safe and reliable water and sewerage services and encouraging private sector investments water supply and waste water treatment.
Under the project, there would be institutional reforms in KWSB which include reforms in customer service, HR, operational capacity, billing and collection etc. Through the project 10 katchi abadis would also be provided with water. The chief minister directed P&D, Local government to go ahead with the proposal.
SHC PROGRAMME:
This programme is aimed at improving the delivery and utilization of health, nutrition, population, education and social protection services to support women and girls to invest in human capital in targeted areas. The World Bank has proposed $400 million for the programme. Under the programme, skill and employment training, secondary and second chance education, early childhood development interventions would also be made. The chief minister directed chairman P&D to hold a separate meeting with the concerned departments and make final recommendations.
