KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah and US Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Pakistan, Elizabeth Horst, met at CM House to explore areas of mutual interest, focusing on climate change, social uplift, and economic growth in Karachi. The meeting was attended by CM Secretary Raheem Shaikh, American Consul General Scott Urbom, Political Officer Jerrod Hansen, among others.

According to Chief Minister Sindh, the discussion on climate change highlighted the severe impact of the 2022 heavy rains and floods in Sindh, which led to the destruction of over 2.1 million houses. The Chief Minister noted that with support from donor agencies and a Rs57 billion contribution from the provincial government, matched by the federal government, the reconstruction of damaged houses has commenced. To date, 800,000 climate-resilient houses have been built. The provincial government is seeking further assistance to provide water, sanitation, hygiene facilities, and solar power to these homes.

Investment opportunities in Karachi were a key topic, with the visiting diplomat noting the city’s potential for development. In response, the Chief Minister spoke about the Work Competitive & Liveable City of Karachi (CLICK) initiative, which aims to improve the city’s livability and competitiveness by enhancing institutional performance and supporting private sector investment. The initiative’s primary goal is to improve efficiencies in Sindh’s business regulatory environment.

The Chief Minister also outlined his government’s commitment to education, stating that a significant portion of the annual budget is now being allocated to developing the education sector. While improvements have been made in the health sector, there is still a need to achieve desired educational outcomes.

Modernizing agriculture was another focal point, with Ms. Horst highlighting its importance for enhancing rural livelihoods. The Chief Minister reiterated Sindh’s commitment to this goal, detailing efforts to promote low-deltaic, high-yield crop varieties in the province.

The meeting concluded with the Chief Minister presenting Ms. Horst with a traditional Sindhi Ajrak made by differently-abled children, to which she expressed her gratitude.