KARACHI, May 19 (NNI): Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah and World Bank Country Director Mr. Najy Benhassine in their meeting at CM House reviewed the overall $3.5 billion World Bank development portfolio against which $123 million were expected to be released by June 30, 2023.
The meeting was attended by provincial ministers, Manzoor Wassan, Sardar Shah, Jam Khan Shoro, Rasool Bux Baloch, Special Assistant Haris Gazdar, Chief Secretary Sohail Rajput, Chairman P&D Hassan Naqvi, SMBR Baqaullah Unar, provincial secretaries and other concerned staff. The WB team members include Sustainable Development Leader Abdalrazak Khalil, Senior Transport Specialist Mr. Lincoln Flor, Senior Social Development Specialist Kamran Akbar, and others.
Karachi Mobility Project: Under the project, two bridges, including the existing Jam Sadiq Bridge and a new bridge to be dedicated to BRT system buses were planned. Chairman P&D told the meeting that the bidders have submitted Technical & Financial Proposals and the technical evaluation would be submitted for mutual discussion to finalize the project.
BRT Corridor: The meeting was told that the BRT corridor phase I was reviewed in respect of station designs, pavement designs, and overhead and underpass structures. Minister Transport Sharjeel Memon said that the consultant has been directed to ensure road safety, gender, and access of disabled people and the maintenance of green areas. The Corridor Phase II is proposed to be in two sub-packages (Package V, 4.2 KM from KPT Interchange till NMC, and Package VA, 3.8 KM from Kalapul till Shahra-e-Quaideen) to be submitted by the Consultant by 30th June 2023. Minister Transport said that his department was procuring electric buses for the city and the process would be completed soon.
Solar Energy: The Sindh Solar Energy project has been launched for $100 million. The chief minister said that Revised PC-1 of the project was under approval by CDWP so that the project could be restructured and extended. Chairman P&D said that there were 33 sites, out of which the solarization of 25 was completed. Out of eight remaining sites, seven were almost complete and ready.
Karachi Neighborhood Project: Chairman P&D told the meeting that most of the sub-projects under Karachi Neighborhood Improvement Projects have already been completed, inaugurated, and open to the public. Only a few of them are in finishing phase which would successfully be completed.
Sindh Irrigated Agriculture Productivity Improvement Project: The meeting was told that the assessment of flood damages has been completed in all the districts of the province, moreover, based on the completion of the damage assessment, the rehabilitation plan and its complete costing has been prepared accordingly. The Current cost estimates have been assessed so far for all project interventions is around Rs 2151.32 million/ $7.58 million. The chief minister said that the Finance department has released Rs.1000 million, and all the required procedures and steps have been completed for the rehabilitation of project interventions such as watercourse rehabilitation and water storage tank rehabilitation. The rehabilitation works have been started in most of the districts of Sindh and would be completed by Sep 30, 2023.
The meeting also reviewed some other projects and decided to remove all the bottlenecks, if any, and the release of funds would be ensured at the earliest so that the ongoing projects could be completed in time. NNI
