Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah chaired a high-level meeting to review the progress of various Foreign Assisted Projects (FAPs) in the province. During the session, he directed relevant government departments to expedite work on these initiatives and ensure timely completion, with regular bi-weekly progress reports from the secretaries. Murad emphasized the need for personal oversight by ministers and department heads, focusing on Karachi’s transformation and rural development.
The meeting, held on Thursday, was attended by provincial ministers, including Nasir Shah, Saeed Ghani, and Mohammad Bux Mahar, as well as key officials such as Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah and various secretaries. Murad specifically focused on the Competitive and Livable City of Karachi (CLICK) initiative; a flagship project valued at Rs 62.316 billion. The project has already allocated Rs 24.294 billion, with Rs 14.3 billion utilized.
The CM tasked Local Minister Saeed Ghani with personally monitoring the progress and emphasized that, moving forward, only secretaries would present updates on these projects. Key aspects of CLICK include Rs 154.24 million in performance-based grants for local councils, with Rs 53.77 million disbursed, and capacity-building initiatives totaling Rs 19.98 billion, with Rs 9.97 million utilized. The meeting also provided updates on various infrastructure projects in Karachi. The Karachi Municipal Corporation (KMC) has seven schemes worth $13 million for fiscal year 2023-24 in advanced procurement, with six more schemes proposed for 2024-25, totaling $13 million. Additionally, the Town Municipal Corporation (TMC) is working on 18 ongoing schemes worth $8.5 million, with 32 more schemes valued at $14.7 million planned for the next fiscal year.
Murad also addressed the Property Tax Survey, which is in its final stages. He directed the swift resolution of any legal obstacles to unlock the tax potential of Karachi. Regarding Waste Management, Murad was informed about significant strides in improving solid waste management. Contracts for the Garbage Transfer Stations (GTS) at Sharafi Goth, Dinga Morr, Imtiaz, and Gutter Bagicha, along with a landfill site at Jam Chakro, have been awarded to Chinese firms, and machinery mobilization is underway. Sindh Solar Energy Project, funded by the World Bank, was another key topic.
The Rs 27.4 billion initiative aims to establish a Solar Park in the province, with procurement processes in progress, according to Energy Minister Nasir Shah. In agriculture, Murad reviewed the Water & Agriculture Transformation (SWAT) Project, worth Rs 70.4 billion, which is modernizing farming techniques across Sindh. The initiative has already trained 61 field facilitators and 750 farmers in innovative practices like raised bed sowing and crop rotation. Moreover, the Smart Subsidy Program is set to cover 50% of production costs for oilseed, pulse, and horticulture crops on 100,000 acres, with a $17 million budget. Murad reiterated his commitment to the province’s growth, emphasizing the importance of these projects in improving urban livability, agricultural productivity, and sustainable energy.
“We will ensure timely completion with uncompromised quality,” he stated, stressing the importance of setting Sindh as a model of development. The meeting also addressed the Emergency Flood Assistance Project, funded by the Asian Development Bank, which is focusing on the reconstruction of 773.71 kilometers of roads damaged by recent floods. With 35.5% of the work already completed, the CM instructed that all roads be completed by 2025. He also prioritized the completion of key roads in Thatta, Badin, Umerkot, and Mirpurkhas by the end of 2024.
