Sindh secures $92 million assistance from World Bank
In his meeting with the World Bank Country Director Najy Behhassine, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah discussed the damage caused by the floods in Sindh.
The $92 million in aid, which would be taken from various bank initiatives for relief and rehabilitation of the impacted individuals, was approved with the chief minister’s help.
The World Bank team will evaluate the losses and present the case to the board for approval. He also made a case for the rehabilitation of the irrigation and drainage network, which would cost about $1 billion.
The Sindh government, Administrator KMC Murtaza Wahab, Chief Secretary Sohail Rajput, Chairman P&D Hassan Naqvi, Chairman SRB Asif Memon, and relevant secretaries were present at the meeting. Gailius Draugelis, Manager of Operations for the World Bank, Abdul Razak, Sector Leader for the organization, Tobias, Program Leader, and Senior Specialist Ahsan Tehsin were all present via video link.
CM Murad noted that Sindh had had a record-breaking amount of precipitation during the monsoon season of July–August 2022. The fact that it rained more than 308 percent over average in July and 784 percent above average in August provides an indication of the extent of the flooding.
Unfortunately, he continued, the recent rains have been more devastating, having a significant impact on all 30 of the province’s districts that have been directly impacted. “This exceptional rainfall has not only resulted in the loss of life, but has also severely destroyed the infrastructure, including roads, properties, cattle, and agricultural products,” he continued.
He claimed that the harm was still being done.
According to the chief minister, early projections indicated that the province would lose more than Rs860 billion. He continued by saying that following a thorough and methodical examination of the damages over the entire province, it was anticipated that the actual losses were significantly more than the first estimates.
According to him, 3,171,726 acres of crops, 11,734 livestock, and over 1.5 million homes have all sustained complete destruction. He added that his government urgently needed money to save, revitalize, and rebuild the destroyed areas.
Sindh secures $92 million assistance from World Bank
Additionally, CM Murad suggested that $57 million from World Bank-funded projects, including $27 million from CLICK, $8 million from agricultural programmes, and Rs22 billion from PDMA, be re-appropriated.
He continued by saying that an additional $35 million, consisting of $25 million from the KWSSIP and $10 million from the Select (Education) project, might be redirected for restoration work.
The World Bank country director accepted the chief minister’s suggestion and assured him that the bank would quickly reappropriate the funds and offer advice.
Chairman P&D Hassan Naqvi stated that 1.5 million homes would be rebuilt in order to provide housing for those who lost their homes during his presentation to the meeting on the damages to homes. According to the chief minister, the reconstruction of 1.5 million homes would lead to the creation of jobs.
Climate-friendly technologies would be implemented, according to a World Bank representative, to reduce climate risk. He recommended flood-resistant housing options built around a core unit that is standardized and for which beneficiaries and artisans would receive training.
The chief minister estimated that it will cost at least $500 million to rebuild the destroyed homes. Najy Behhassine then stated that the bank would inspect the damaged homes and present their findings and recommendations, along with the provincial government’s request, for approval at their board meeting.
CM Murad also stated that the irrigation and drainage infrastructure needed to be repaired and that his government was eager to resuscitate the agricultural industry.
According to the country chief of the World Bank, the province’s economy depends on the agriculture sector’s recovery. He gave the chief minister his word that his staff would determine the damages and submit the provincial government’s request for approval to their board.
