CM, WB agree on removing bottlenecks in uplift projects

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah and a World Bank team led by its Country Director Najy Benhassine on Wednesday reviewed the overall progress of the 14 WB-assisted projects of $3.4 billion, and agreed to remove the bottlenecks and expedite their pace for their timely completion.

Mobility Project

The meeting at the CM House was informed that the Karachi Mobility Project (KMP) aims to enhance mobility, accessibility and safety along selected corridors in the city.

It comprises the construction of two bridges (the Jam Sadiq bridges) for the Yellow Line corridors, the development and operation of the Yellow Line system, and capacity building and technical assistance for the project.

Regarding the Jam Sadiq bridges, the meeting was told that the concept design was finalised on August 6, mobilisation was completed, the test pile was cast on July 7, and the load tests are scheduled to be conducted on August 12.

About the development and operationalisation of Yellow Line, the meeting was told that the financial bids opened in April. The WB issued the required consent and now the contract signing is expected to be held next week.

CLICK

The Competitive and Liveable City of Karachi (CLICK) project has been launched to improve urban management, service delivery and the business environment in the city, and provide an immediate and effective response to an eligible crisis or emergency.

The meeting was told that a geographic information system-based management information system is being developed for property tax survey. It was pointed out that the technical evaluation was shared with the WB. The firm is planned to be on board by August 30.

KWSSIP

The Karachi Water & Sewerage Services Improvement Project (KWSSIP) is aimed at improving access to safe water services in the city and increasing the Karachi Water & Sewerage Corporation’s financial and operational performance.

The meeting was informed that most major procurements for the project have been tendered. Currently, all activities are on track to be delivered by project closing. Promising bids were received for meters’ procurement and are under evaluation. In case of successful bids, the contract would be signed in September.

The CM said the WB has released Rs238 million for the K-IV augmentation works, and the provincial government is in the process of releasing its share. He said the work on augmentation would be started shortly.

Solar energy project

The Sindh Solar Energy Project (SSEP) is designed to increase solar power generation and access to electricity in the province. Under the project, solar parks will be established, apart from the solarisation of public buildings, and solar home systems (SHSs) will be distributed.

The meeting was told that the contract has been awarded for the solar park, but the National Transmission & Despatch Company is yet to finalise the approval for the grid interconnection study required for the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority’s approval.

Demarcation for the solar park land at Manjhad, District Jamshoro, is in process, for which the CM directed the Board of Revenue to expedite the work and report to him. It was disclosed that all 34 government buildings have been solarised.

The WB team gave the go-ahead to the provincial government to start distributing the SHSs among 200,000 families so that they can start enjoying the facility.

SELECT

The Sindh Early Learning Enhancement through Classroom Transformation (SELECT) project is aimed at improving the reading skills of early-grade primary students and increasing student retention in primary schools in the selected districts.

Regarding transforming teaching practices in early grades, the meeting was told that in-house material has been developed for grades I and II. The material will be ready by the end of September.

SWAT

The purpose of the Sindh Water & Agriculture Transformation (SWAT) project is to ensure water resource management, improve water service delivery, targeted agricultural incentives and investments, and agriculture flood emergency rehabilitation.

The meeting was told that the water law consultants have been brought on board. The Sindh Water Policy Implementation Committee has been notified, and it would meet in the first week of September, with a primary focus on initiating the formulation of a new water resource law.

Akram Wah Canal

The meeting discussed the rehabilitation of the Akram Wah Canal and agreed on the lining option from RD 0 to 193. The project steering committee unanimously approved this decision.

The consultant submitted a proposal justifying the lining of the canal, which was then shared with the WB. It was decided that the consultant would conduct a geological investigation and prepare a comprehensive report before finalising the decision.

The Sindh Irrigation & Drainage Authority has completed payment for 1,210 of the 1,246 AED-affected households. The remaining 36 PAPs will be paid once their traceability and other documentation issues are verified. A media campaign has been initiated for the traceability of PAPs, and the process is expected to be completed by August.

The WB team was told that as of July 15, out of the 298,966 eligible registered farmers with up to 25 acres, 72 per cent have received area-based allocations, and 68 per cent of the 235,470 farmers with up to 12.5 acres have received additional lump-sum payments.

However, the current farmers in the disbursement system have reached 92 per cent (up to 25 acres landholding, Rs5,000/acre) and 95 per cent (up to 12.5 acres landholding, lump-sum Rs60,000/farmer).

SIHPP

The Sindh Integrated Health & Population Programme (SIHPP) has been launched to improve the use of basic RMNCAH+N (reproductive maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health, and nutrition) services for poor and vulnerable populations, particularly women and children in the integrated areas of the province.

During the meeting, it was announced that the Sindh Integrated Emergency & Health Services has received 60 ambulances, 30 mobile medical vans, and five mobile laboratories. Additionally, the procurement of more ambulances will begin once the procurement team is appointed.

SWEEP

Under the Solid Waste Emergency & Efficiency Project (SWEEP), a landfill site is being constructed at Jam Chakro. Consultants are on board and the survey has been started.

The CM and the WB country director agreed to hold another meeting after a month to review the progress of the time set by them in the meeting.

The meeting was also attended by provincial ministers Sharjeel Memon, Dr Azra Fazal, Nasir Shah, Saeed Ghani, Sardar Shah and Jam Khan Shoro, Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah, Planning & Development Chairman Najam Shah, provincial secretaries and the project directors of the WB-assisted projects. The WB team comprised Kamran Akbar, Murtaza Noorani, Omar Riaz, Waleed Anwar and Uzma Sadaf among others.