The Sindh government will develop rural growth centres (RGC) in the Chuhar Jamali of Thatta/Sujawal district, within a radius of 15 to 30 kilometres of each other, as a model under the Poverty Reduction Strategy.
This was stated by SUCCESS Technical Assistance Team strategic adviser and senior economist Dr Kaiser Bengali in his presentation on the plan implementation in Chuhar Jamali. He was speaking at a seminar organised by the Sindh Directorate of Urban and Regional Policy.
A former adviser to Sindh and Balochistan chief ministers, Dr Bengali said the Sindh government has extended full cooperation to the poverty reduction strategy project team.
The PRS included implementation of the town-to-market infrastructure, improvement in the quality of education, healthcare, water supply and drainage. This would be supplemented by the construction of quality roads to facilitate access to rural growth centres.
The Sindh government has selected a small town, Chuhar Jamali, in Thatta district as a pilot project to implement the strategy. The consolidation of infrastructure and services around Chuhar Jamali town would result in poverty alleviation and improvement of the living standards of people, Dr Bengali said.
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah personally selected Chuhar Jamali for the pilot project.
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The project team have identified at least four RGC sites in the Thatta district which would be developed. Garho was identified for education, Ghorabari for health, Ver as an economic centre and Jhimpir (Keenjhar lake) and Keti Bunder (coast area) as tourist sites.
A village development plan has been formulated, targeting larger settlements within a 30-kilometre radius of the RGC. The development plan covers housing, walkways, drains, drinking water and a kitchen garden.
Similarly, at least three economic growth sites have been identified in Tharparkar district at Islamkot, Mithi and Diplo areas, Dr Bengali added.
Kathryn Ennis-Carter, team leader of EU Sindh Union Council Community and Economic Strengthening Support (SUCCESS) Technical Assistance Team, said the Sindh government approved the PC-1 of the pilot project and funds have been allocated. She hoped that construction on these projects would start soon.
The schemes for facilities like school, water and drainage have been approved and construction of a hospital is underway. The schemes for town and market and connectivity of 17 roads are awaiting the final signature of competent authorities.
Noted playwright Noorul Huda Shah gave a talk on poverty situation in Sindh. According to her, the situation in rural areas is very disappointing. "It's my dream to see Sindh out of poverty," she remarked.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 8th, 2021.
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