Sindh CM urges WB to finance Karachi mega projects

ISLAMABAD: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has said that World Bank has played an important role in the development of education, health, agriculture and infrastructure sectors in Sindh. "The urge for development of Sindh has brought me here at the WB Country office."

This he said while talking to WB Country Director Mr Illang Patchamuthu at WB Country office where he had a luncheon-meeting with him today.

The chief minister said that the total development portfolio of WB in Sindh was $1.14 billion which include Education, health, irrigation, Agriculture, skill development and other sectors.

Syed Murad Ali Shah discussed Karachi mega projects which include infrastructure development of the city, water supply and sanitation projects. "Sindh government needs financial and technical assistance for implementation of these projects," he told the World Bank country director.

He urged the World Bank country head to send his team to Sindh to discuss these projects with the team of provincial government so that necessary paper work and legal formalities could be done well in time.

Presently, two World Bank projects in education sector, a $66m special grant for missing facilities and anothere $400 m Sindh Education Reform Program, are in progress.

The chief minister also discussed Sukkur Barrage rehabilitation and canal lining projects with World Bank country chief.

The World Bank Country Director assured the chief minister that he would consider all the proposals he had proposed on priority basis. He thanked the chief minister for visiting his office.