Sindh prepares projects under PSDP

Irrigation, agriculture and road development schemes on the cards

KARACHI:

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has reviewed Irrigation, agriculture, forest, livestock and road development schemes, including the upgrade of the Kalri Baghar (KB) Feeder network for K-IV. The schemes are to be included in the next federal Public Sector Development Programme 2022-23.

Shah chaired a meeting which was attended by Sindh Irrigation Minister Jam Khan Shoro, Planning and Development Chairman Hassan Naqvi, PS to CM Fayaz Jatoi, Finance Secretary Sajid Jamal Abro, Works Secretary Imran Atta Soomro, P&D Special Secretary Asghar Memon and others.

The chief minister said that the upgrade of KB Feeder network was important to enhance the water requirement from Keenjhar Lake to Karachi. Another scheme the CM discussed was the rehabilitation of the KB Feeder System and extension of Keenjhar Lake. “This will also help arrange more water for the city of Karachi,” he said. Shah directed the P&D chairman to prepare the necessary documentation so that the project could be included in the federal Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP).

The other two important projects cleared for PSDP were the rehabilitation of the Left bank Outfall Drainage system and construction of a sea protective dyke in Thatta district. These projects would cost over Rs200 billion, and the Sindh government would get them included in the federal PSDP for 2022-23.

A scheme for the restoration of the forest ecosystem has also been worked out for which the federal government will be requested to bear 50 per cent of the cost. The remaining 50 per cent will be arranged by the provincial government, CM said.

The agriculture department has also recommended two schemes; water conservation through construction of storage reservoirs, coupled with a solar pumping system, and cold storage units with a capacity of 1000 MT for farmers.

Both the schemes are to cost over Rs2 billion. The chief minister said that both these schemes could be launched on a co-sharing basis between the federal and provincial governments.

The Sindh Livestock and Fisheries Department submitted three schemes of Rs29 billion for their inclusion in the federal PSP. They include the National Programme for Genetic Improvement of Non-Descriptive Cattle in Pakistan, the Pilot Shrimp Farming Cluster Development Project as well as the import substitution and export promotion for livestock and fisheries.

Road sector

Road sector schemes of over Rs85 billion were discussed and cleared in the meeting for the next federal PSDP. They included construction of the 189km Coastal Highway from Keti Bunder to Ali Bunder and building of the road to connect Shaheed Benazirabad, Sanghar to Matiari district.

Other projects included dualisation of the 31km track from Tando Allahyar to Tando Adam Road, construction of a 150km road from Rahri (Sukkur) to Guddu Barrage via Khanpur Mahar, Jarwar, Mirpur Mathelo and Mohammadpur. Also part of the proposed projects was the construction of a 135km additional carriageway of Mehran Highway (Nawabshah-raniput) and a 40km road from Thatta to Jhimpir.

There was also the construction of a 203km road from Sanghar to Salehpat via Mudh Jamraho up to Rahri Road and the 45km additional carriageway of road from Naudero to Lakhi.

Finally, there was the construction of a 90km road from Umerkot-Samaro-Kot Ghulam Mohammad-Digri to Dambalo Road. It would connect three districts, Umerkot, Mirpuirkhas and Badin.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 4^th, 2022.