KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah met with Mr. Abdullah A. Fadil, UNICEF’s Representative for Pakistan, to discuss a collaborative development plan aimed at enhancing health and education across the province. The meeting underscored the ongoing robust partnership between the Sindh government and UNICEF, focusing on the current two-year Rolling Workplans (2023-2024).
These workplans, developed and approved jointly, span several crucial sectors, including Health, Nutrition, Education, Child Protection, and Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH). They also cover Planning and Development, Social Welfare, Local Government, and Labour and Human Resources.
Murad Ali Shah highlighted the alignment of UNICEF’s support with the Sindh government’s goals of fostering inclusive and resilient development. He noted that initiatives within the multi-sectoral work plan are already showing positive results.
In health, UNICEF’s $5.5 million project is enhancing maternal, neonatal, and child health services while supporting the Expanded Programme on Immunisation. The chief minister emphasized the government’s commitment to equitable access and comprehensive immunisation coverage throughout Sindh.
The $17.5 million Nutrition project aims to improve the nutritional well-being of mothers and children, focusing on adolescent health and early childhood development. UNICEF continues to support polio eradication through technical and communication resources.
The $3.2 million Child Protection program is focused on policy reforms, awareness campaigns, and the enforcement of birth registration laws. Efforts are being made to prevent child abuse and harmful practices through capacity-building and a comprehensive protection management system.
In education, UNICEF’s $7 million partnership targets reducing the number of out-of-school children and enhancing early learning. There is a focus on strengthening educational data and improving teachers’ professional skills, with a particular emphasis on adolescent learning and skill-building for girls.
The $16.8 million WASH initiatives aim to develop climate-resilient infrastructure and build local capacity, with community engagement as a key component for sustainability. Progress is monitored by a high-level Steering Committee under the Chief Secretary.
Chief Minister Shah expressed appreciation for UNICEF’s support and reaffirmed the Sindh government’s commitment to deepening its collaboration with UNICEF. The partnership aims to achieve lasting development for children and vulnerable communities across Sindh.