Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, in his meeting with World Bank Operations Manager Gailius Braugelis, emphasised on the need to further enhance the scope of the Sindh Barrage Improvement Project. He said this would enable a feasibility study for the new Sukkur Barrage and help identify a site.
He said that the ground breaking ceremony of the Yellow Line BRT Corridor would be performed next month.
The meeting was attended by Sindh Irrigation Minister Jam Khan Shoro, P&D Chairman Hassan Naqvi, PSCM Sajid Jamal Abro and Irrigation Secretary Sohail Qureshi.
The chief minister and the visiting World Bank operations manager discussed all the WB-funded projects particularly the Rs2 billion Sindh Barrages Improvement project, Modernization of Urban Property Tax, Karachi Mobility project under which BRT Yellow Line and its connectivity with southern suburbs are to be made.
Sindh Barrage Improvement Project, Sukkur barrage has been launched for Rs16.6 billion in June 2018 and is likely to be closed in June 2030. The project includes rehabilitation, effective operation, and management of the Sukkur barrage. Irrigation Minister Jam Khan Shoro said that 60 per cent physical progress of different components has been achieved.
The chief minister said that his government was planning to construct a new barrage to replace the old Sukkur Barrage- the biggest barrage in the country. He asked the World Bank to support the provincial government to prepare a feasibility of the new barrage, including its exact location or site.
The operations manager assured the chief minister that he would involve the technical team of the bank to help the provincial government undertake this task.
Guddu Barrage
To improve the reliability and safety of the Guddu Barragem a project of Rs2 billion was launched in August 2015 which is scheduled to be completed in December 2021. Jam Khan Shoro told the meeting that overall physical progress of the rehabilitation and operational works was 50 per cent.
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The chief minister said that due to certain reasons, including law and order and low water level in the Indus River and high-level floods, there was a delay in the execution of the works. He urged the World Bank representative to provide a four-year extension in closing the project by December 2026. The WB operations manager suggested the provincial government file a formal request for the extension of the project.
Property Tax
Discussing the modernisation of the Urban Property Tax system, the chief minister said that he has already decided to hand over collection of property tax to the local bodies in the city. He added that a fresh survey would be conducted by the Excise & Taxation department.
"The local bodies taxation units would be provided appropriate training so that they can collect on their own. The project has been launched and its physical progress is 15 perc ent.
Karachi Mobility project
A Karachi Mobility project has been approved for Rs6 billion with the objective to improve urban mobility, accessibility and road safety in Karachi through development of the mass transit Infrastructure.
It includes construction of a 22-kilometre long Yellow Line BRT corridor, drainage, lighting busways, stations, terminals and depot.
The chief minister said that the BRT would improve the connectivity between Korangi and Korangi Industrial neighbourhoods with Karachi's Southern suburbs and Central Business districts.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 20th, 2021.
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