CM, World Bank delegation review various projects worth $3.1 billion

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Thursday met a World Bank delegation headed by Country Director Najy Benhassine. The two sides reviewed the $3.124 billion Sindh portfolio to set new deadlines for various development projects.

Officials said the high-level meeting took place at the CM House and was attended by provincial ministers, Sindh chief secretary and other key officials. The World Bank team included sector heads to assist in the review process.

The active Sindh portfolio of the World Bank includes 13 development projects, of which $1.36 billion has already been disbursed by the donor agency. The projects span a wide range of sectors, including water management, infrastructure, solar energy, education and health services.

Some of the key initiatives that were reviewed were the Karachi Mobility Project (KMP), Sindh Flood Emergency Rehabilitation Project (SFERP), Sindh Flood Housing Emergency Reconstruction Project (SFHERP), and Karachi Water and Sewerage Services Improvement Project (KWSSIP).

It was said that the SFERP aimed at rebuilding infrastructure and providing livelihood support to areas affected by the 2022 floods. The project’s focus was on improving Sindh’s capacity to respond to climate-related disasters, the meeting was told.

The $500 million project consists of four major components — infrastructure rehabilitation, livelihood support, institutional strengthening and project management. It was noted in the meeting that payment backlogs had been significantly reduced, and they were expected to be cleared by the end of the month.

Another project, the SFHERP, was for multi-hazard-resilient housing reconstruction in flood-hit areas. With a budget of $500 million, the project has three main components — housing reconstruction grants, institutional strengthening and project management.

The meeting was told that landless individuals had been granted land and their titles were being transferred to them as part of the project’s broader efforts to secure housing for flood victims.

It was said that the KMP aimed at improving mobility and safety along key corridors in Karachi and included the construction of the Yellow Line Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system.

The project has three components — urban road infrastructure, BRT system development and capacity building.

It was said that significant progress had been made on the Yellow Line project with contracts signed in August 2024 and mobilisation under way. Work had already commenced on the depot 2 of the project and the construction of the depot 1 was scheduled to begin on October 17.

Final designs for the Yellow Line and Jam Sadiq Bridge had been submitted, and piling work started. A business model for the BRT system had also been presented and was currently under review with the final report due by October 12, the meeting was told.

The Competitive and Liveable City of Karachi Project (CLICK) was designed to enhance urban management, improve service delivery and bolster the business environment in Karachi, the meeting was told.

The project includes five components ranging from capacity building for local councils to improving property tax administration and technical assistance for solid waste management. It was said that nine contracts had been signed, and work had commenced on all the 18 schemes, including 73 initiatives under the $22.58 million fund for local councils.

A pilot property survey conducted between August 15 and 22, 2024, in the Gulberg and North Nazimabad areas yielded data from 100 units, the meeting was told.

It was said that the KWSSIP focused on improving access to safe water in Karachi. The project involves major procurements, tenders for most of which have been issued.

It was noted that contracts were expected to be signed by October 20, 2024, with a commitment level expected to reach 95 per cent. The appointment of key roles such as a chief financial officer, would be completed by mid-November 2024.

Another project that was reviewed was the Sindh Early Learning Enhancement through Classroom Transformation (SELECT), which focuses on improving early-grade education in Sindh.

The project had successfully secured a $2.3 million budget allocation, and civil works had begun in Mirpurkhas, with Thatta following suit, the meeting was told.

The first batch of materials for Grade 1-2 students would be delivered by January 2025, while materials for Grades 3-5 were expected to reach classrooms by April 2025.