$895m social projects okayed for Sindh

The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) has approved seven foreign-funded development projects for Sindh covering water supply and sanitation, education, irrigation, property revenue enhancement, environmental sustainability and urban infrastructure. The projects, approved on October 2, carry combined foreign financing of $895 million, besides a major irrigation project estimated at Rs50.99 billion. The largest initiative is the Sindh Transformational Accelerated Rural Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (STAR WASH) Services Phase-I Project, with a total financing of $450 million. The project comprises a $300 million World Bank financing and a $150 million Asian Development Bank (ADB) component and seeks to improve water supply, sanitation and hygiene services in rural areas of Sindh. The CDWP also approved $15 million in Project Readiness Financing (PRF) for preparing urban and water-sector projects in Sindh. The initiative falls under the Local Government, Housing & Town Planning Department and is aimed at developing projects for future financing and implementation. Another major project is the Sindh Property Revenue Enhancement Programme (Sindh PREP), supported by a $150 million World Bank financing. The programme, also under the Local Government, Housing & Town Planning Department, is designed to strengthen property revenue systems in the province. In the education sector, the CDWP approved the $150 million Sindh Early Learning Enhancement Project through Classroom Transformation (SELECT-II), financed by the World Bank. The project will focus on improving early learning outcomes through classroom transformation under the School Education & Literacy Department. The Sindh Secondary Education Improvement Project – Second Additional Financing was also approved. The project includes a $100 million ADB loan and a $10 million grant to support improvements in secondary education across the province. Meanwhile, the Pakistan Finance for Lowering Emissions in the Water Sector (PAK-FLOW) project received approval for $20 million in World Bank financing. The initiative aims to reduce emissions in the water sector while supporting environmental sustainability. The seventh project involves the Water Requirement for K-IV Project, specifically improvement of the Kalari Baghar Feeder and Keenjhar Lake. It includes cement-concrete lining of the Kalari Baghar Feeder Upper Phase-I at an estimated cost of Rs50,989 million and falls under the Sindh Irrigation Department.