Govt will introduce reforms to attract investment in Sindh: CM

Murad Ali Shah meets World Bank team, discusses growth strategy of the province


Our Correspondent August 02, 2017
CM Sindh Murad Ali Shah. PHOTO: Express

KARACHI: The provincial government has embarked on a comprehensive plan to introduce reforms in every sector with the aim to make Sindh a hub of investment, claimed Chief Minister (CM) Murad Ali Shah.

Shah said this during a meeting with the World Bank team, led by its country director Pachamuthu Illangovan at the CM House on Tuesday. Other provincial ministers, including Sohail Anwar Siyal, Jam Mehtab Dahar, Syed Nasir Shah, special assistant Shahid Thahim, also attended the meeting.

The World Bank country director gave a presentation on Sindh growth strategy. Speaking about 'improve investment climate', Illangovan said this can be achieved through reforms, regulations and launch of e-government system. He suggested stimulating urban land markets through better regional planning and land regulations.

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Illangovan further recommended improving rural service delivery through public private partnership. "[The government] will have to strengthen its capacity for service delivery oversight and to reduce gaps in health and education outcomes for women," he said.

Discussing another objective, 'improved connectivity to markets', he said there is a need of connecting villages to cities, particularly the port cities. "Strengthening of government credibility can be developed by starting dialogue with private sector, improving budgeting and budget tracking system and receiving online citizen feedback," he added.

The CM discussed 'programme for results' with proposed interventions and expected results, with the World Bank team. The interventions that the CM discussed included automation of all business licences, strengthening contract enforcement process, leverage to private sector to upgrade, develop and manage well-serviced industrial estates and zones, establishment of combined effluent treatment plant on public private partnership mode and reinforcement of Sindh Board of Investment for targeted and strategic investment promotion.

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According to the CM, Sindh Business Registration Portal will be launched by the end of December 2017 under reforms programme. It includes procurement of hardware and software and hiring of the staff to manage the portal, he said. The CM added that one-window facility for construction of permits at Sindh Building Authority will also be started, for which a firm will be hired to design the facility and related hardware and software.

It was agreed in the meeting that there was a need of digital and transport connectivity. Therefore, it was decided to develop and implement a comprehensive roadmap for provincial e-governance system, for efficient service delivery.

While discussing problems of World Bank's ongoing five projects in Sindh, it was decided that strategic discussion will be held on the key issues by Planning and Development Department chairperson Muhammad Waseem. These projects are Sindh Public Sector Management Reform, Sindh Agriculture Growth Project, Sindh Barrage Improvement Project, Sindh Skills Development Project and Second Sindh Education project.

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Education Department Secretary Aziz Uqaili briefed the meeting on some of the achievements made in the education sector. He said that with the use of technology, the teachers have returned to class rooms, enrolment of students has improved slightly and teachers training programmes for their capacity building have also been launched.

Transport and Information Minister Syed Nasir Shah discussed the Orange Line and Blue Line Bus Rapid Transit projects. The World Bank showed an interest to finance the Blue Line Bus Rapid Transit project.

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