CM orders expediting flood-devastated infrastructure’s rehabilitation

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Thursday chaired a meeting to review the progress made in the reconstruction and rehabilitation of flood-affected infrastructure, and directed his team to expedite the ongoing works and pursue donors for funding where it is still pending.

Schools

School Education Secretary Dr Shireen Narejo said that 19,808 schools were damaged by the floods of 2022, of them 7,503 were fully damaged and needed to be reconstructed.

Reconstruction of 2,020 of the fully damaged school buildings was committed by the European Union, China, donor agencies, the Asian Development Bank, the Federal Public Sector Development Programme and the Provincial Annual Development Programme at Rs60.972 billion.

The Sindh government has started the construction of 431 schools at Rs4.428 billion, but the funds committed by the friendly countries and the donor agencies are in the pipeline. Some of the projects are in the approval phase.

The CM directed Planning & Development (P&D) Board Chairman Shakeel Mangnejo to get the approval for the projects from the Central Development Working Party and other agencies, then pursue for the release of funds. He also directed the P&D department to prepare a plan to reconstruct the remaining 5,483 fully damaged schools.

Health

Health Secretary Dr Mansoor Rizvi said that the 1,000 Days Integrated Health & Population Programme had been started for Rs61.6 billion ($280 million) with the help of the World Bank, with the Sindh government’s share of $30 million. The project will be completed in 2026-27.

The project’s scope encompasses the refurbishment of 392 dispensaries, including equipment provision. It also involves the reconstruction of 121 basic health units, 97 rural healthcare centres and 39 Taluka headquarters (THQ) hospitals that have been completely damaged.

Additionally, the project will establish hospital-based blood banks at the Kashmore-Kandhkot, Sujawal, Tando Allahyar and Tando Mohammad Khan district headquarters (DHQ) hospitals. These blood banks will be linked with the regional blood centres.

The project will also establish diagnostic laboratories at 39 THQ hospitals and 10-bed nurseries at 39 THQ hospitals, and strengthen operation theatres at 39 THQ hospitals.

As part of the project, four regional training institutes, six public health schools the and schools damaged during the floods will be repaired and rehabilitated. The project will also provide micro-financing and skill development opportunities to 6,000 women. Moreover, the project aims to place 1,176 community medical workers, 1,960 community health workers and 392 family welfare workers to help strengthen the local healthcare system.

A total of 16 DHQ hospitals and 392 general dispensaries will be made operational. Additionally, a proper training programme will be developed for healthcare providers.

Talking about progress, Dr Rizvi said that an agreement was signed between the Peoples Primary Healthcare Initiative (PPHI) and the programme for making 50 dispensaries under the PPHI management operational. Initially, 50 dispensaries have been handed over to the PPHI.

In addition, the contract awards for the procurement of 60 ambulances, 30 mobile medical vans and five mobile laboratories, along with fabrication, have been issued.

The draft terms of reference for a third-party consultancy firm for skill development through vocational training of 6,000 eligible women have been submitted to the Islamic Development Bank for approval.

Rehabilitation

Works & Services Secretary Nawaz Soho said that work on 131 roads located in 19 districts, with a length of 680 kilometres, has been started, and that their physical progress has moved from 35 per cent to 54 per cent.

The CM directed the works & services department to speed up the work so that it can be completed on time. He directed other departments to prepare their progress reports as regards the flood-affected works so that they can also be reviewed.

The meeting held at the CM House was also attended by Chief Secretary Dr Fakhre Alam, Principal Secretary to CM Agha Wasif, Irrigation Secretary Niaz Abbasi, Peoples Housing CEO Khalid Shaikh and other officers concerned.