On October 13, a noteworthy meeting took place between the Sindh Chief Minister, Justice (retd) Maqbool Baqar, and a high-profile delegation from the World Bank (WB) to discuss the Competitive & Liveable City of Karachi (CLICK) Project scheduled for March 2024.
The meeting encompassed a detailed discussion on the progress and challenges of ongoing projects in the Sindh province, with a specific focus on the Competitive & Liveable City of Karachi (CLICK) Project.
Led by the Country Director Najy Benhassine, the delegation shared that the urban property survey in Karachi had faced a delay but is now slated to commence in March 2024. This postponement was attributed to the complexities of procuring satellite imagery data and developing the required software, both of which are expected to be completed by March.
Additionally, Shakeel Mangnejo, Chairman of Planning & Development, provided a comprehensive briefing to the World Bank team on the progress and challenges associated with the various ongoing projects in Sindh. The province is currently executing thirteen major projects, which are sponsored by the World Bank and entail a total investment of USD 3.2183 billion.
Of this amount, USD 947.8 million has already been disbursed, indicating significant financial support from the World Bank. For the current fiscal year, the World Bank has plans to release an additional USD 415 million, with USD 133.8 million already distributed.
One of the key projects of interest was the Sindh Solar Energy Project, where substantial progress has been achieved. As of now, installations have been completed at 33 out of the 34 designated sites. While some delays have been encountered, Chief Minister Baqar expressed his commitment to ensuring the swift and successful finalization of the project by November 30. This project holds immense promise for sustainable energy generation in the province, a critical aspect of modern development.