In a significant meeting held at the Chief Minister’s House in Karachi, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah met with a delegation from the World Bank to discuss the rollout of the Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) project alongside ongoing flood relief housing efforts in the region.
The delegation was led by Anna Bejarred, the Bank’s managing director, and included country director Naji Bin Hussein, among other officials. A statement from the CM’s office highlighted a mutual commitment to the swift implementation of the WASH initiative, which aims to enhance access to clean water and sanitation services across Sindh, particularly benefiting flood-affected areas.
The WASH project is set to target approximately 3,200 villages impacted by recent floods, providing crucial infrastructure to improve public health and living conditions. The initiative is backed by a substantial budget of $270 million, comprising contributions from various international and local institutions: $75 million from the World Bank, $13 million from the Islamic Development Bank, $100 million from the Asian Development Bank, and an additional $100 million from the Sindh provincial government. This project is expected to directly assist around 1.5 million residents.
During the discussions, CM Murad also reviewed the Sindh People’s Housing Project, which aims to address the housing crisis following the devastating floods of 2022. These floods resulted in the displacement of over 12 million individuals and the destruction of approximately 2.1 million homes in the province. The housing initiative is anticipated to support a rural population of 15 million, surpassing the populations of many countries globally.
The Chief Minister reported that so far, 120,000 bank accounts have been opened for eligible beneficiaries, with financial aid distributed to 1.15 million individuals. Construction efforts have progressed with 750,000 house foundations laid and 500,000 homes nearing completion. Furthermore, around 900,000 land ownership certificates have been issued in women’s names, thereby promoting their economic and social empowerment.
The project has also been instrumental in creating over one million jobs, which are crucial for the livelihoods of communities affected by the floods.
Additionally, the World Bank delegation took time to view a photo exhibition at the CM House that celebrates the contributions of notable Pakistani women, recognizing figures from Fatima Jinnah to contemporary icons. They expressed their appreciation for the historical architecture and artistic elements of the Chief Minister’s residence.
The day before, Chief Minister Murad and Aseefa Bhutto-Zardari visited a flood rehabilitation housing project in the Shaheed Benazirabad district, accompanied by the World Bank officials, where Bejarred reaffirmed the institution’s ongoing support for Sindh’s recovery initiatives.
