KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister (CM) Murad Ali Shah met a delegation of the World Bank (WB) on Tuesday to discuss development projects worth over $10 billion (bn). An 11-member WB delegation led by Patchamuthu Illangovan, the country director of the World Bank met the Sindh CM to discuss funding for provincial development projects. During the meeting, CM Murad said that his government aimed to transform governance and spur economic growth. He said that his government was committed towards promoting sustainable development and human capital development. “I am committed to achieving these goals through accountability, encouragement of economic growth, liberalisation and modernisation of agriculture sector, better population management and early childhood development,” the CM informed the delegation. The CM apprised the WB team regarding different projects in the city. Speaking of the Karachi Neighborhood Improvement project, the CM said that the total computed project cost was $86 million (m) and the provincial government needed $14 m to begin working on the initiative. CM told the delegation that the Karachi Urban Management project aimed to enhance urban management service delivery of Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) and six district municipal corporations. CM Murad said that under this initiative, performance-linked block grants would be awarded to six district municipal corporations (DMCs) and Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) for local level infrastructure and municipal services. The WB delegation proposed $200 m for the Karachi Urban Management Project. CM Murad also discussed in detail, a capital development grant for KMC to improve flood management and rehabilitation of urban drainage infrastructure. Institutional development and capacity building of KMC and DMCs also came under discussion. CM Murad informed the delegation that he had already announced to hand over recovery of property tax to KMC and DMCs. Murad Ali Shah said that Karachi Urban Mobility (KUM) project aimed to improve urban mobility, accessibility and road safety in Karachi. The WB proposed $400 million for KUM. Under the KUM project, the WB would construct a Yellow Line corridor, focus on infrastructure rehabilitation and develop the Bus Rapid Transit construction system. Sindh CM also briefed the WB team on the Karachi Water and Sewerage project. The CM said that the objective of this project was to support Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB) in delivering safe and reliable water and sewerage services. CM Murad added that one of the project goals was to encourage private sector investments in water supply and waste treatment system. The WB delegation proposed $1.6 bn for the project. CM Murad explained to the delegation that under the Karachi Water and Sewerage project, institutional reforms would be introduced in KWSB. He said that these reforms would pertain to customer service, human resource management, operational capacity, billing and collection. CM Murad further explained that under this project, a total of 10 katchi abadis would also be provided with water. He then directed Planning and Development dept chairman and local government officials to follow through with the project proposal. The SHC program also came under discussion. CM Murad said that the program was aimed at improving delivery and utilisation of health, nutrition, population, education and social protection services in order to encourage women and girls to invest in human capital in targeted areas. He told the team that skill and employment training, secondary and second chance education, early childhood development interventions were some of the aims of SHC. The WB team proposed an sum of $400 m for the program. CM Murad told the delegation that the goal of Sindh Water and Agriculture Transformation and Climate Resilience project was to transform water management and agriculture production. He said that project would focus on water productivity and climate resilience primarily. The WB delegation proposed $300 m for the project. The Sindh government’s share would be $150 m. Murad Ali Shah further explained that the project would focus on rehabilitation of canal system on the right bank of Dadu and Rice Canal and on the left bank of Akram Wah, Ghotki Feeder and Phulleli system. He added that advance irrigation reforms had been proposed under the project and master plans for monitoring system of right-bank barrages were also being evolved. WB proposed Rs 150 m for Transformation and Revitalisation of the Fisheries Sectors (TRFS). The chief minister said that the goal of project was to transform and revitalise fisheries and aquaculture by improving management, competitiveness and community. He explained that the project would introduce sustainable management systems including spatial planning, vessel registration, licensing and data management. The chief minister said private sector participation and value chain building would be incentivised as a part of TRFS. He said that the project also aimed at improving nutritional food security and livelihoods for women and families and strengthening institutions. World Bank proposed $400 million for Sindh Jobs and Competitiveness project. The chief minister said that this project was aimed at improving business environment and economic competitiveness to generate new investment and employment opportunities. “Under this project investment climate and doing business indicators would be developed,” said the CM. The chief minister and World Bank country chief discussed each and every project in detail and finally decided to forward them to the Planning and Development (P&D) department. After clearance from local forums, the projects would to forwarded to WB for final approval. Patchamuthu Illangovan told the meeting that the WB was ready to further enhance and strengthen their partnership with provincial government. Later, CM directed P&D chairman Muhammad Waseem to call a joint meeting of local bodies and secretary local government to finalise KUM project so that necessary recommendation could be incorporated for final approval. The meeting also decided to conduct fresh property survey in the metropolis. Sindh Local Government Minister Saeed Ghani, Ismail Rahu, Sardar Shah, Imtiaz Shaikh, CM Advisor on Law Murtaza Wahab, Chief Secretary Mumtaz Shah and relevant provincial secretaries attended the meeting. Published in Daily Times, September 3rd 2018.