Murad Shah addresses the launching ceremony of WB Report on Pakistan Capital Review
Karachi, Sindh
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has said that the pivotal role of human capital in sustainable economic growth and inclusive development cannot be ruled out, however, the benefits of human capital investments often take a considerable time to materialize and may not always be immediately visible.
This he said while speaking at the launching ceremony of World Bank’s report on ‘Pakistan Human Capital Review: Building Capabilities throughout Life’ at a local hotel on Tuesday.
Human Capital Review (HCR) is part of the World Bank’s broader ‘Human Capital Project’ that was launched in 2018, the CM said and added that the Review assessed the challenges and opportunities to improve Pakistan’s human capital outcomes. “Several priority outcomes that require improvement, including early childhood development, child malnutrition, out-of-school children, learning poverty, and labor market outcomes of the poor are analyzed to inform human capital development policies,” he elaborated.
Murad Shah said that the Human Capital Review made by the world shows that Pakistan could realize substantial economic growth by controlling its population growth rate, investing more in the supply and quality of health and education, and bringing women into the labor force. Giving an example, he said that if Pakistan invested in human capital at the level of its aspirational peers, while ensuring its full utilization over the next 25 years — to 2047, the 100th anniversary of its founding—its GDP per capita could grow eight times more than under business as usual.
The chief minister said that unprecedented shocks, like the COVID-19 Pandemic and the devastating floods of 2022, have exacerbated the human capital challenges faced by the country and reversed several human capital gains that were made in the past few years. He added that the human capital index in Pakistan was 0.41 which indicated the country’s sub-par human development outcomes, however, there was immense potential to synergize efforts and undertake substantial investments centered on human capital enhancement for improved outcomes.
Talking about his government, the chief minister said that the Sindh government took several initiatives to tackle the COVID-19 Pandemic such as creating a dedicated fund, repurposing the development portfolio, holistic public health response, direct cash grants, ration distribution, and proactive communication that demonstrated how effective governance could yield desirable laudable results.
Shah said that the 2022 floods in Pakistan have caused catastrophic impacts in Pakistan, especially in Sindh. “The devastation in Sindh has severely affected 24 districts that have been declared ‘calamity-hit with more than 2.1 million houses damaged,” he said and added every conceivable sector and facet of life has been adversely affected.
The Sindh government has undertaken several initiatives for post-flood resilient recovery, rehabilitation, and reconstruction for the people of the province in a climate-resilient manner, Murad Shah said and added that in addition to providing Immediate Shelter, food, water, health, and education to the affected population, his government has devised a comprehensive strategic action plan.
Talking about the plan, he said that it included providing long-term/low-cost Climate-Resilient Housing, -reviving agricultural activity & Livelihood including Livestock, – rebuilding damaged Irrigation infrastructure, -rehabilitating damaged provincial highways and internal road Infrastructure, restoring water & Sanitation facilities, and – rehabilitating damaged education and health facilities.
The CM said that 29.3 percent of the population in Sindh was under the poverty line in the calamity-hit districts and another 9.3 percent have been added due to the floods.
For Livelihood regeneration, Shah said that his government has initiated the ‘Cash-for-work’ grants for about 900,000 people for providing alternate (short- to medium-term) employment opportunities to the local communities, especially the affected population. He said it would create about 1.16 million jobs, direct and indirect employment opportunities, in the post-flood rehabilitation works.
The CM disclosed that $110 million from World Bank-assisted ‘Sindh Water & Agriculture Transformation’ (SWAT) project has been directed towards subsidy on agriculture inputs. He added that over Rs.3.3 billion have been disbursed to more than 141,000 farmers of landholdings up to 12.5 acres under the ‘wheat seed subsidy’ program and the next phase of disbursements for landholders of up to 25 acres would be entertained.
Talking about the health sector, Murad Shah said that the Sindh government, with the assistance of the World Bank and Islamic Development Bank, has initiated the Integrated Health and Population Project for $ 280 million with the objective to refurbish basic health facilities and improve utilization and quality of basic reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health and nutrition (RMNCAH+N), for poor and vulnerable populations, especially women and children, in targeted areas of Sindh. He added that the program would benefit 7.9 million people in the catchment area.
For Social Protection, Shah said that his government with the assistance of the World Bank, was undertaking a $ 230 million investment for “Strengthening Social Protection Delivery Systems in Sindh” to devise a comprehensive social protection registry and enhance accessibility and utilization of Mother and Child Health Services in selected districts in through conditional cash transfers. The program is expected to benefit 1.3 million mothers and children.
He said that his government has been undertaking several other human development-focused flagship initiatives for years, like its multi-pronged People’s Poverty Reduction Program and its multi-sector Accelerated Action Plan for Reduction of Stunting and Malnutrition.
Earlier, Vice President of the World Bank for Human Development Ms. Mamta Murthi along with her delegation met with Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah at CM House and appreciated his government for creating a separate department of Social Protection and establishing College Education as a full-fledged department.
The meeting was attended by (WB side) Special Assistant to VP Mr. Caroline Vagneron, South Asia Regional managers of different. From Sindh government provincial Ministers, Dr. Azra Pechuho, Sardar Shah, Parliamentary Secretary Qasim Soomro, Special Assistant Haris Gazdar, Chief Secretary Sohail Rajput, Chairman P&D Hassan Naqvi and others.
In the meeting Social Protection, health, and Education were discussed and it was agreed to work collectively so that human capital could be improved along with bringing reduction in poverty. (PR)
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