WB to help construct new bridges
The World Bank has set nearly half a dozen additional conditions for loan disbursement. PHOTO: FILE
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has agreed to repair the Jam Sadiq Bridge and construct a new one as its alternate to meet the requirement of a mass transit system.
While reviewing the overall World Bank portfolio, along with his team and the World Bank Country Director Najy Benhassine, the chief minister has also agreed to carry out long overdue reform of the water board.
The meeting was attended by provincial ministers Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho, Sardar Shah, Mukesh Chawla, Nasir Shah, Jam Khan Shoro, Advisor Law Murtaza Wahab, Advisor Rehabilitation Rasool Bux Chandio, Special Assistant on Investment Qasim Naveed, Special Assistant on Social Protection Haris Gazdar, Chief Secretary Sohail Rajput, Chairman P&D Hassan Naqvi and concerned provincial secretaries.
It was pointed out that Jam Sadiq Bridge needed to be repaired to meet the requirement of the mass transit system being developed. The meeting also agreed to construct a new bridge as an alternate to the Jam Sadiq Bridge. The chief minister directed P&D department to prepare PC-1 for repair of the existing bridge and plan for the new bridge.
Another matter which came under discussion was reforming the Karachi Water & Sewerage Board. The chief minister said that he was trying to make KWSB a self-sustained, highly professional, and efficient organization under the WB-assisted Water and Sewerage Services Improvement Project, but the desired results have yet to come.
The meeting was told that a headhunting firm has shortlisted names of CEO for KWSB and its board would approve one for appointment shortly.
The chief minister said that he has discovered that the sewerage and water distribution system of the board is not properly documented. The World Bank assured the chief minister that their experts would help the provincial government to document it.
While discussing the Competitive and Livable City of Karachi Project it was pointed out that the collection of Urban Immovable Property Tax has been handed over to the local councils.
The World Bank was told that the property tax collecting staff has been given to the local government department for continued collection for next two or three years. By that time, the local councils would train their staff and collect on their own.
Under the project a fresh survey of the properties in the city would be conducted for which specialists and other relevant staff was being recruited.
Under the WB-assisted BRT Yellow Line project, urban mobility, accessibility and road safety in the city has to be improved through mass transit infrastructure by constructing a 22km-long yellow line BRT corridors, bus ways, stations, terminals and depots. It is Rs53,540 million.
A solar energy project has been launched for Rs12.4 billion with the objective to harness renewable energy in the province by providing 400 MW solar panels to 200,000 households with no or low access to electricity.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 23rd, 2022.