Sindh government has formed a housing company for World Bank’s Rs 110 billion loan for construction of houses for flood victims.
With the assistance of the World Bank, the Sindh government has decided to launch an Rs 110 billion housing scheme for the flood-hit people and a special unit will also be set up under the chief secretary.
The decision was taken on Friday in a meeting between Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah and World Bank Country Director Najy Benhassine who attended the conversation through video link from Islamabad.
According to the sources, the meeting was also attended by provincial ministers, Azra Pechuho, Nasir Shah Jam Khan Shoro, Manzoor Wassan, Zia Abbas Shah, Murtaza Wahab, Rasool Bux Chandio, Chief Secretary Sohail Rajput, Chairman P&D Hassan Naqvi, and other concerned secretaries.
While from the World Bank team Programme Leader Abedalrazaq Khalif, Senior Disaster Risk Management Specialist Elif Ayhan, Kamran Akbar, Bilal Khalid, Yunziyi Lag and Farah Yamin joined the meeting.
The chief minister informed the meeting that he has already deputed teams to clear water from flooded towns and villages. “The dewatering process is in progress and hopefully within one-and-a-half months it would be completed,” he stated adding that he would start construction of houses for the affected people once the water is drained.
Meanwhile, CM Murad stated as the winter season is around the corner “we have to make housing arrangements for the people”. He insisted to the global lender finance the housing project.
After thorough discussions and deliberations, the provincial chief executive and the World Bank country director decided to launch the project of Rs 110 billion for which a company would be formed under the chairmanship of the chief secretary.
The companyÂ’s chief executive officer (CEO) with the assistance of the public and private sector would start the construction of the houses for which the survey is in progress.
CM Sindh also highlighted the plight of growers and said that the floods have caused them irreparable losses.?The World Bank then agreed to grant $323 million, so that growers could reclaim their lands from the floods and sow the upcoming Rabi crop.