Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah and World Bank Country Director Bolormaa Amgaabazar reviewed progress on development projects worth $3.85 billion under way across the province. The two sides met in Karachi and reaffirmed their commitment to finishing the schemes within their set timelines.
The meeting looked at ongoing work in health, education, agriculture, irrigation, water supply, sanitation and urban development. Both sides stressed that the projects depend on the bank’s financial assistance, which is channelled through the provincial government.
Chief minister orders faster project delivery
Murad Ali Shah directed the relevant provincial departments to speed up implementation. He asked them to remove administrative and financial bottlenecks, release funds more quickly and improve coordination so that avoidable delays could be prevented.
According to official sources, the meeting also reviewed fund-release targets for World Bank-funded projects in the 2026-27 fiscal year. The chief minister instructed departments to accelerate procurement, improve contract management and begin work immediately on schemes that had already been approved.
Murad Ali Shah said his government was determined to strengthen its development partnership with the World Bank. He said the aim was to make sure that investment produced visible improvements in people’s lives. He also announced that he would personally monitor efforts to clear obstacles affecting project implementation.
Karachi water and sewerage schemes under review
The meeting reviewed the second phase of the Karachi Water and Sewerage Services Improvement Project. The focus is on expanding access to safe drinking water and sanitation facilities across the city.
Participants also discussed the administrative and financial performance of the Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation. Its restructuring and the recruitment of essential technical and managerial staff were on the agenda as well. Progress on facilities linked to the K-IV water project was reviewed too.
The chief minister told the relevant authorities to resolve pending issues affecting Karachi’s water supply and sewerage infrastructure without delay. Murad Ali Shah said tackling the city’s water and sanitation challenges remained one of the provincial government’s key priorities.
Health, farming and flood recovery work progresses
On health, the meeting reviewed the Sindh Integrated Health and Population Project. This includes the procurement of 104 ambulances and medical equipment for healthcare facilities across the province. The chief minister asked officials to complete healthcare projects on time and improve facilities for women and children in underserved areas.
Officials told the meeting that the payment system of the maternal and child support programme, which serves deserving families, would be linked with NADRA’s database. The aim is to improve how financial assistance is managed and delivered.
In agriculture, officials said financial payments had already been made to 249,861 farmers affected by the 2022 floods. Progress on assistance programmes for those farmers was reviewed. The Sindh Water and Agriculture Transformation Project and procurement for the rehabilitation of Akram Wah and the Sindh Strategic Water Plan were also discussed.
Murad Ali Shah said modernising the irrigation system and improving water management were essential for farm productivity. He said they would also help protect communities from water-related risks. The Sindh Barrages Improvement Project was reviewed, with attention on rehabilitation and safety measures at Guddu and Sukkur barrages. Sediment and sand management, barrage maintenance and technical studies were part of the discussion.
The Sindh Livestock and Aquaculture Sectors Transformation Project was also examined. The review covered veterinary laboratories, mobile veterinary ambulances and measures to prevent livestock diseases. Support for livestock farmers and producer groups was discussed as well.
In education, the meeting reviewed the Sindh Early Learning Enhancement through Classroom Transformation Project, which aims to improve early-grade learning. The chief minister directed officials to speed up construction of the remaining schools and make sure their facilities were fully operational. He also stressed better school environments and higher standards, particularly at the primary level.
On urban and housing work, officials reviewed initiatives under the Karachi Mobility Project to improve city transport. Progress on the Sindh Flood Emergency Housing Reconstruction and Sindh Flood Emergency Rehabilitation projects was examined. Murad Ali Shah directed authorities to accelerate house reconstruction for flood-affected families and ensure eligible households received housing and rehabilitation benefits. He said World Bank funding had to be used effectively to produce meaningful gains across Sindh.
World Bank urges stronger coordination and institutions
Bolormaa Amgaabazar praised the Sindh government’s efforts to strengthen its development partnership with the bank. She stressed the need for coordination between the World Bank and provincial departments, timely decisions and effective administrative arrangements to meet development targets.
She also called for stronger institutional mechanisms to ensure projects are implemented efficiently and deliver better development outcomes. Concluding the meeting, Murad Ali Shah welcomed the bank’s continued support. He reiterated that his government intended to turn development investment into tangible benefits for the people of Sindh.
