Staff Report

Karachi, Sindh

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) delegation led by Mr. Hong Soo Lee discussed on Friday March 8 the construction of another 250,000 houses for flood-affected people and agreed to negotiate terms and conditions for a $400 project.

The meeting was attended by Chief Secretary Dr. Fakhre Alam, Chairman P&D Board Shakil Mangnejo, Secretary Finance Kazim Jatoi, and CEO Sindh People’s Housing Foundation (SPHF) Khalid Shaikh. The bank delegation included Head of Water Resources & Emergency Assistance Mian Shaukat, Economist Mr. Jules Hugot, Project Analyst Ms. Rabia and others.

The chief minister said that he was looking for funding to construct 250,000 houses for flood-affected people. He added that $400 million were required for the project and an additional $100 million for the development of community infrastructure.

Read: 50000 Coastal People of Sindh living in Relief Camps

Shah said that he wanted to construct an external sewerage (with soaked pits and septic tanks) drinking water facility and drainage system. “We are also planning to provide solar units, and washrooms to the houses being built for flood-affected houses,” he said.

CEO SPHF Khalid Shaikh said that out of 1 million houses, 100,000 houses have been constructed and work on others was in progress.

The CM said “We are also looking for donors to construct houses apart from flood-affected people,” he said.

The meeting decided that the paperwork of the $400 project of 250,000 houses would be completed to present them for the ADB Board meeting.

Read: 100 Houses Handed Over to Flood-Affected Families of Saeedabad

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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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