Sindh eyes $125m ADB push for climate-proof schools

125 new schools planned as 116 school blocks already under construction across 10 districts

KARACHI:

Sindh and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Wednesday put a fresh slate of development projects on the table, including the Karachi Circular Railway (KCR), 125 climate-resilient secondary schools and major investments in transport, health and digital transformation, as both sides agreed to deepen their long-standing partnership.

The roadmap was discussed during a meeting between Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah and ADB Pakistan Resident Mission Country Director Emma Fan at the CM House. The meeting focused on Sindh's development priorities, progress on ADB-backed schemes and preparations for future interventions in education, transport, healthcare, digital transformation and rural development.

Education emerged as a major focus, with the ADB commending Sindh's progress under the Sindh Secondary Education Improvement Project (SSEIP). Ten newly constructed secondary school buildings under the original SSEIP have been completed and are being made operational in phases. The schools selected for inauguration include GGHS Gharo-II, GGHS Public School Makli, Thatta, and GBPS Malik Musa Chauhan.

Under the project, 116 modern secondary school blocks are being constructed in 10 districts, with the aim of expanding access to quality education, particularly for girls and children in underserved areas. "The completion of the first batch of schools is an important milestone," Shah said, describing the investment as more than a construction programme and stressing its importance for the future of children in rural and underdeveloped areas. The chief minister said more than 200 schools were targeted for completion by the end of the year, while over 800 schools were expected to be completed under different programmes in the coming months.