Karachi, 12 Oct 2023:Justice (retd) Maqbool Baqar, Caretaker Chief Minister of Sindh, in conjunction with a high-powered delegation from the World Bank, strategized the implementation and progress trajectory for several substantial WB-backed projects across Sindh, placing particular emphasis on the initiation of an urban property survey scheduled for March 2024. The meeting, hosted at CM House, thoroughly reviewed a robust portfolio of initiatives currently underway in the province, and was documented in a press release from Chief Minister House, Sindh.

The Country Director of the World Bank, Mr. Najy Binhussaine, led the 12-member delegation through discussions that scrutinized the financials and status of 13 paramount projects, valued at $3218.3 million, already in progress within Sindh. Thus far, 29% of the budget, equivalent to $947.8 million, has been released, and during the current financial year, $133.8 million has been disbursed from a slated $415 million.

Justice Baqar briefed the delegation on the Sindh Solar Energy Project (SSEP), communicating that, of 34 sites, solar installations are completed at 33, assuring the delegation of project finalization by November 30, 2023, despite delays. In the dialogue about the Competitive and Liveable City of Karachi (CLICK) project, the World Bank was informed of a deferment in the property tax survey, which is now re-scheduled to commence in March 2024, pending the procurement of satellite imagery data and software development, both of which are set to complete in March.

Moreover, the Karachi Mobility Project was underlined, spotlighting the forthcoming construction of the Jam Sadiq Bridge and advancement of the BRT Yellow Line, for which a procurement notice has been issued, and proposals are to be submitted by November 15, 2023. A commitment was made to finalize the design and bidding document for the BRT Yellow Line’s 10 km Corridor by the succeeding month.

Also discussed was the initiative to ‘Strengthen Social Protection Delivery System in Sindh’. The delegates resolved to position a secretary for the Social Development Dept imminently to catalyze the project’s commencement. Notably, under the Sindh Irrigated Agriculture Productivity Improvement Project, 845 out of 1593 water courses and 40 out of 56 water storage tanks have been rehabilitated, with work on the remaining 16 in progress. The convocation concluded with a resolution to revisit the progress of the initiatives in two months’ time.