Pakistan signs two agreements worth $188m with World Bank

The agreements aim at improving governance and irrigation system in Sindh

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan signed two agreements worth $188 million with the World Bank (WB) for improving the irrigation systems and the implementation of governance reforms in Sindh on Wednesday.

According to details, the two separate agreements signed with the global lender include a $50 million agreement for Sindh Public Sector Management Reform Project and another $138 million agreement for Additional Financing for Sindh Water Sector Improvement Phase-I Project.

On behalf of the federal government, the financing agreement was signed by the Secretary Economic Affairs Division Muhammad Saleem Sethi while the Special Finance Secretary and Secretary Irrigation Department Sindh signed the Project Agreements on behalf of Government of Sindh. World Bank Country Director Rachid Benmessaoud signed the agreements on behalf of the lending agency.

The Sindh Public Sector Management Reform Project aims to to strengthen public sector performance in the province through improved revenue generation and expenditure management. The project would result into Provincial Reforms Plans for financial management, procurement and revenue mobilization. It aims to a road map for the government of Sindh as its pursues its governance reforms over the next five years.

The second agreement regarding the additional financing for Sindh water sector improvement aims at improving the efficiency and effectiveness of irrigation water distribution in Gothki Area Water Board (AWB), Nara AWB and left bank AWB, particularly with respect to reliability, equity and user satisfaction