Karachi, May 19, 2023 (PPI-OT): Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah and World Bank Country Director Mr. Najee Ben Hassain in their meeting at the Chief Minister’s House reviewed the World Bank’s development portfolio totalling $3.5 billion, which resulted in June 30. $123 million is expected to be released by 2023.
Provincial Ministers Manzoor Wasan, Sardar Shah, Jam Khan Shoro, Rasool Bakhsh Baloch, Special Assistant Haris Ghazdar, Chief Secretary Sohail Rajput, Chairman P and D Hassan Naqvi, Senior Member Board of Revenue Baqaullah Anand, Provincial Secretaries and other relevant staff were present in the meeting.
Participated while the members of the World Bank team included Sustainable Development Leader Abdul Razzaq Khalil, Senior Transport Specialist Mr. Lincoln Floor, Senior Social Development Specialist Kamran Akbar and others.
Karachi Mobility Project: Under the project, two bridges including the existing Jam Sadiq Bridge and one new bridge were planned for BRT system buses. and Chairman P and D told the meeting that the bidders have submitted technical and financial proposals and the technical evaluation will be submitted for mutual discussion to finalize the project.
BRT Corridor: The meeting was informed that the BRT corridor phase I was evaluated in terms of station design, floor design and overhead and underpass infrastructure. Transport Minister Sharjeel Memon said that the consultant has been directed to ensure road safety, accessibility for the elderly and disabled and maintenance of green areas.
Corridor phaseII two sub packages (package V, from KPT Interchange 4.2 km to NMC and package VA, from Kala Pul to Shahrah Qaidin 3.8 km) is proposed to be submitted by the consultant by 30 June 2023.
The Transport Minister said that his department is procuring electric buses for the city and the process will be completed soon. Solar energy: Sindh Solar Energy Project has been started with 100 million dollars. Sindh Chief Minister said that CDWP Revised plan to have PC-1 has gone for approval to restructure and expand the project.
Chairman P and D said that there were 33 sites out of which solarisation of 25 has been completed. Of the remaining eight sites, seven are almost complete and ready. Karachi Neighbourhood Project: Chairman P and D told the meeting that most of the sub-projects under Karachi Neighbourhood Improvement Projects have already been completed, inaugurated and opened to the public, only a few of them are in the completion stage which have been successfully completed will be completed.
Sindh Irrigation and Agricultural Productivity Improvement Project: The meeting was informed that the flood damage assessment has been completed in all the districts of the province, further that a rehabilitation plan has been prepared based on the completion of the damage assessment and its full cost.
The current cost estimate including all projects so far is approximately 2151.32 million/$7.58 million. Sindh Chief Minister said that the finance department has released Rs 1000 million and all necessary procedures and steps have been completed for the restoration of projects like restoration of water course and restoration of water storage tank.
Rehabilitation work has been started in most of the districts of Sindh and will be completed by 30 September 2023. Some other projects were also reviewed in the meeting and it was decided that if there are any obstacles, they should be removed and funds should be released as soon as possible so that the ongoing projects can be completed on time.
For more information, contact:
Press Secretary,
Chief Minister House, Sindh
Tel: +92-21-99202019 (Ext: 336)
Website: www.cmsindh.gov.pk