Karachi, Sindh

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah in his review meeting on Wednesday with the World Bank delegation led by its Regional Director Mr. John Roome said that his government has received $100.55 million, including the retroactive financing for Flood Emergency Rehabilitation Project, out of which $87.74 million, equal to Rs.25.42 billion, have been utilized.

The World Bank delegation comprised of Country Director Najy Benhassine, ProgramLeader Abedalrazak, Practice Manager Jen JunEun Oh, and others. The CM was assisted by Chief Secretary Sohail Rajput, Chairman P&D Hassan Naqvi, SMBR Baqaullah Unar, Secretary Local Govt Najam Shah, Chief of Peoples Housing Project Khalid Shaikh, Secretary Agriculture Aijaz Mahesar, Secretary Irrigation Sohail Qureshi, and Secretary Transport Saleem Rajput.

The chief minister and the World Bank delegation discussed the progress of WB-funded projects. Murad Ali Shah said that 2.2 million houses were being financed to reconstruct them but “we have given priority to the women, widows, elderly women who have no male members, and the women running their household because their husbands are disabled.

Housing project: CEO of Peoples Housing Company Khalid Shaikh told the meeting that there are 253,526 women households, of them 31985 were widows, 10,227 elders without male members, 1354 women with disabled husbands, and 1219 women heading their households. They were verified for the reconstruction of their houses damaged by the floods.

Out of 253,526 women, 31985 were widows, 10,227 elders without male members, 1354 women with disabled husbands, and 1219 women heading their households

The CM said that construction of their resilient houses was in progress and they have been provided funds through the bank accounts. These houses are under construction in Larkana, Jacobabad, Shikarpur, Kambar Shahdadkot, Khairpur, Dadu, Naushehroferoze, Thatta, Sujawal, Tando Allahyar, Hyderabad, Jamshoro, Ghotki, and Sukkur.

The World Bank team appreciated the provincial government’s efforts, says an official handout.

Flood Emergency Rehabilitation Project: (Irrigation Component): The project has been launched Districts of Qambar Shahdad Kot, Dadu, Mirpurkhas, Shikarpur, Thatta, Matiari, Khairpur, Tharparkar, Shaheed Benazirabad, Malir, and Jamshoro.

The project cost is Rs.48.327.22 million or $212 million against which the undertaken works include Infrastructure Rehabilitation, Institutional Strengthening for Resilience and Technical Assistance, Project Management, and Infrastructure Rehabilitation.

Emergent Works: The CM discussing the progress said that in Emergent Works 33 packages were awarded for the plugging of 208 breaches/cuts at different Bunds, Canals, and Main Drains, the repair of 11 small dams and Gaj Diversion, and the supply of 12 pumping machines. He added that all the breaches have been plugged in.

Emergent Rehabilitation Works: Mr. Shah said that 36 packages of Emergent Rehabilitation Works were awarded for the rehabilitation and remodeling works on FP Bund, MC Bund, Dhoro Puran, Aral Wah, Aral Head Regulator, Danister Canal and its Regulators, Shaheed Benazirabad Stormwater Drain, Syphons at Ali Bahar Branch and Kubri Branch, Talpur Wada Pumping Station and Water Carrier Drain, G & F Pumping Stations, Johi Aqueduct and Road Bridge, Cross-Regulator at Desert Canal, and Rehabilitation of Ruk Loop Bund.

Secretary Irrigation Sohail Qureshi told the meeting that the physical progress of these works is 61 percent.

Long-Term Rehabilitation Works: The meeting was told that 16 works were awarded for 11 Flood Detention Dams, the Rehabilitation of Shikarpur Branch Drain, the Rehabilitation of Superio Bund, Ochitto Outfall Regulator, Odero Lal Escape, and Pharho Escape.

The Physical Progress on these works is 13 percent.

Institutional Strengthening: The CM said that the Institution Strengthening for Resilience and Technical Assistance project is in progress.

A leading firm has initiated the preliminary survey for the Development & Integration of the Kirthar Model and carried out the Operations & Maintenance of the Data Center.

The chief minister said that the ToRs were under preparation for Forensic Analysis of the 2022 Floods and Mitigation Options on the Right Bank of Indus.

The overall Physical Progress of the Project is 59 percent.

Out of 216,640 small growers, 174,080 have been paid Rs5.61 billion. 

Murad Ali Shah said that a total of $ 100.55 Million equal to PR 29.13 billion has been received, including the retroactive financing. Out of which $87.74 Million equals to Rs.25.42 billion has been utilized.

Subsidy of the wheat crop: The provincial government launched a project to provide subsidies to the small growers for planting the wheat crop at a rate of Rs5000 per acre. Agriculture Secretary Aijaz Mahesar told the meeting that out of 216,640 small growers, 174,080 have been paid Rs5.61 billion.  He added that the figures showed that 70 percent of growers have been served. (PR)

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Karachi

Khushhali Microfinance Bank Limited has launched an initiative to provide relief for the large number of flood-hit families, who need food, shelter, and rehabilitation after this catastrophe.

With the winter season approaching soon, the situation is likely to be unfavorable for the flood-affected families. In view of such a situation Khushhali Bank is extending its full support in ensuring families who have lost their homes and livelihoods in this calamity, so that they are provided with adequate relief such as warm clothing, tents, and medical assistance, says a press release.

“Through its flood-relief program, Khushhali Microfinance Bank is committed to mitigating the losses faced by flood affectees across the remote regions of Sindh, Balochistan, and Punjab provinces. It is now arranging food-ration distribution drives in the affected villages surrounding Sukkur, Larkana, Hyderabad, and Mirpurkhas too,” it said.

The bank has mobilized its volunteer teams, who are participating in the relief efforts, all across the affected areas. Initially, Khushhali Microfinance Bank provided food packages to flood victims in the surrounding villages of DG Khan and Taunsa, to fulfil the immediate requirements for food and nutrition. In the second phase the bank provided tents, sheets, and food packages to the affectees of Khairpur. Medical camps are also being arranged in the surrounding villages, to provide free health checkups and medicines to a large number of deserving people, including women and children, the bank claimed in press release.

President and Chief Executive Officer of Khushhali Microfinance Bank – Ghalib Nishtar stated: “The devastating floods in Pakistan have left behind a heartbreaking tale of destruction, as millions of affectees have been left homeless and need our support to survive this natural calamity. Khushhali Microfinance Bank is fully committed to helping the flood affectees of Pakistan, as we continue to extend generous support for their relief and rehabilitation.”

Earlier on October 24, the United States government, through the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), launched a new partnership with Khushhali Microfinance Bank Ltd. (KMBL) to support micro, small and medium sized enterprises (MSMEs) and women-led businesses in Pakistan.

The partnership will enable the MSMEs to access finance with enhanced credit history and collateral accommodations.  This project is made possible by an investment guarantee of up to $25 million provided by DFC in collaboration with USAID/Pakistan to KMBL.

The launch event brought together DFC’s Chief Climate Officer Jake Levine, USAID/Pakistan’s Acting Mission Director Michael Rossman, KMBL President Ghalib Nishtar, and other senior U.S. government and KMBL representatives.

DFC has provided KMBL with a $10 million, 50 percent loan portfolio guarantee to mobilize commercial loans to 2X-qualified MSMEs that are majority-owned, operated or staffed by Pakistani women across the country. DFC’s 2X Global Women’s Initiative has catalyzed more than $13.5 billion of gender smart investment in projects that are owned by women, led by women, or provide a product or service that empowers women.

DFC also provided a $15 million, 50 percent loan portfolio guarantee to KMBL that will help mobilize commercial loans, specifically to MSMEs operating in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province and its Newly Merged Districts (NMDs).

USAID Acting Mission Director Michael Rossman said, “U.S. government initiatives, such as these loan guarantee facilities, are playing a key role in unlocking private financing for small and medium businesses and women entrepreneurs and advancing the U.S. government’s long-term commitment to helping Pakistan secure a more prosperous future.”

“The signing underscores DFC’s commitment to supporting the resilience of small businesses that improve lives and enable inclusive growth and employment,’ said DFC Chief Climate Officer Jake Levine. “This support will help small businesses in Pakistan adapt to the impacts of the climate crisis by providing financing to support businesses in regions impacted by the recent floods as well as those that increase access to new mitigation technologies.”

KMBL President Ghalib Nishtar expressed his gratitude to the DFC for placing its trust in KMBL’s high standards and said “These loan portfolio guaranties will build-capacity and create more opportunities for KMBL to empower micro and small businesses, especially those owned by female-entrepreneurs, to contribute in the socio-economic uplift of the country.”

Research data shows MSMEs contribute to more than 30 percent of Pakistan’s Gross Domestic Product and generate 80 percent of the country’s non-agricultural employment, but only represent 6.3 percent of all private sector lending. Women-led MSMEs make up approximately 8 percent of all MSMEs in Pakistan, yet they face a finance-gap of $3.5 billion. Loan guarantee mechanisms enable financial partners to transfer certain risks that they would otherwise be unable to easily absorb or manage on their own thereby helping to mobilize resources to assist underserved populations and regions. (PR)

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Islamabad

As part of the national plan of providing maximum relief to over 33 million flood-affected people across Pakistan, چ has pledged to donate 100 tons of tea to one million families displaced by the devastating floods.

The relief assistance will be provided through its partner NGOs, Indus Hospital, The Citizens Foundation Al-Khidmat Foundation, and Roshan Academy, ekaterra said in a press release issued here on Tuesday.

Tea is not only a part of the staple diet in Pakistan but also it’s an essential item that helps people get a sense of community. It is a ritual to have tea and sit together in open spaces, reminiscing the good times.

“The flood devastation in Pakistan is of an unimaginable magnitude: almost 20% of the world’s 5th most populous country is submerged under water. Pakistan emits less than 1% of the greenhouse gases in the world and yet it is still reeling from the effects of intense climate change. It’s not a matter of “if” but “when” we’ll all be affected for mistreating Mother Earth,” said Farheen Salman Amir, President BSPAN and GM Pakistan, ekaterra, while announcing the tea donation.

She said that ekaterra believes in giving back more than it takes from nature. “We’re announcing our commitment to the flood affected by donating 100 tons of tea to one million displaced families, that’s 100% of the displaced families as per the latest UNHCR data.”

Pakistan continues its relentless battle against the floods triggered by the heavy monsoon rains which have claimed 1,400 lives and injured over 2,000 people. Over 33 million have been affected and one million families have been displaced, while over 218,000 houses have been destroyed, and a further 500,000 damaged. More than 750,000 livestock, which is the most critical source of sustenance and livelihood, have died and around 2 million acres of crops have been impacted. (PR)

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