By: Kashif Shamim Siddiqui
Karachi, December 12, 2024: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah chaired a high-level review meeting today to assess the progress of World Bank-supported projects in the province. The meeting focused on resolving challenges and accelerating the implementation of key initiatives aimed at transforming education, healthcare, and social protection systems. The session brought together a 15-member World Bank delegation, including Country Director Najy Benhassine (participating online), Operations Manager Gailus J. Draugelis, Senior Urban Development Specialist Shoaib Rasheed, and other senior representatives. Alongside the Chief Minister, the meeting was attended by provincial ministers, senior officials, and Mayor Karachi Murtaza Wahab.
The World Bank is currently funding 13 active projects in Sindh, with a cumulative budget of $3.12 billion, of which $1.4 billion has been disbursed so far. These projects cover a wide array of areas, including education reform, healthcare improvement, and social protection systems. Among these, the Sindh Early Learning Enhancement Through Classroom Transformation (SELECT) project, launched in 2021 with a budget of $154.7 million, focuses on training teachers for early grades, improving school management, monitoring, and evaluation, and enhancing learning environments in 333 targeted schools. Significant progress has been made, with contracts awarded for repairing 132 schools in Thatta, Tando Muhammad Khan, and Matiari districts. Work on these schools is expected to commence soon, while additional contracts for schools in Sujawal, Qambar-Shahdadkot, and Sanghar districts are slated for awarding by December 2024. The Sindh Government has allocated $2.3 million to support this transformative initiative.
Another key area of focus is the strengthening of social protection delivery systems through a $200 million project aimed at implementing the Mother and Child Support Program in selected districts. To date, $3 million has been disbursed, and steps are being taken to hire consultants and essential staff to ensure the program’s success. The provincial government has sent recommendations to the World Bank for swift approval of recruitments, further underscoring its commitment to the project’s timely implementation.
In healthcare, the Sindh Integrated Health and Population Project (SIHP), with a budget of $200 million, is dedicated to improving maternal and child health through the RMNCAH+N framework. Thus far, $12 million has been disbursed under the project, and 121 public health dispensaries are in the process of being transitioned to the People’s Primary Healthcare Initiative (PPHI). Plans to transfer an additional 392 dispensaries are currently under review. Complementing these efforts is the National Health Support Program, launched with a $340 million budget, including $92.6 million contributed by the Sindh Government. This program aims to expand universal health coverage through primary healthcare services. Major milestones include the completion of training for doctors and the successful funding of a comprehensive TB treatment program, with Rs. 1.7 billion allocated to ensure effective disease management.
Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah reaffirmed the provincial government’s unwavering commitment to these initiatives, highlighting their potential to transform lives by improving education, health, and social systems. He emphasized that the collaborative efforts with the World Bank would ensure the timely and successful implementation of these projects. World Bank representatives assured their continued support, with Country Director Najy Benhassine expressing optimism about resolving bottlenecks and enhancing project delivery.
The World Bank has been a key partner in Sindh’s development journey, driving transformative projects that uplift underserved communities. These initiatives, aligned with sustainable development goals, aim to enhance governance, infrastructure, and service delivery across the province, bringing tangible benefits to the people of Sindh.