World Bank to provide $323m to Sindh govt for farmers of flood-hit areas

• Special unit would be established under chief secretary to start project.
• CM Murad says has already deputed teams to clear water from flooded towns and villages.
• Another project to repair Karachi's damaged road network will be undertaken.

KARACHI: The World Bank will provide $323 million to the Sindh government for the farmers of the flood-hit areas in a bid to alleviate their plight and help them reclaim their lands ahead of the upcoming Rabi crop season.

Chief Minister Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah, in a meeting with World Bank's Country Director Najy Benhassine, said that he has prepared a scheme worth Rs30 billion to provide subsidies in the heads of fertiliser and certified seed.

"We have to revive our flooded agro-industry by giving them some incentives," he said, adding that farmers were not in a position to purchase certified seeds, fertilisers, and other inputs.

To kick-start the project, a special unit would be established under the chief secretary.

During the meeting, CM Murad said that he has already deputed teams to clear water from the flooded towns and villages.

“The dewatering process is in progress and hopefully within one and half months water would be evacuated,” he said, adding that construction of houses will begin once water is disposed of.

CM Murad added ahead of the arrival of the winter season, housing arrangements would be required for the people impacted by floods and urged the world bank to finance the housing project.

Following thorough discussions and deliberations, the chief minister and World Bank's Benhassine decided to launch the project.

The provincial chief secretary would be the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the unit with the support of the public and private sector, after which construction of the houses will start. A survey to assess requirements for the housing project is currently underway.

Another project to repair Karachi's damaged road network and drainage system will also be undertaken for which CM Murad proposed receiving a Rs13 billion investment; however, the World Bank has committed Rs6 billion, while the remaining amount of Rs7 billion will be arranged by Sindh government from other sources.

To overhaul the sewerage system, the Sindh government has also worked out a Rs25 billion scheme, which the World Bank agreed to finance through the Karachi Water and Sewerage Services Improvement Project (KWSSIP) project.

During the meeting, CM Murad also deliberated on the project of reconstructing the Jam Sadiq Bridge or a parallel bridge. Both the World Bank and the provincial government's teams agreed to discuss the project in a meeting scheduled to be held next week.