KARACHI - Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah has said Karachi is an important city of Pakistan and his government has planned to mobilise its resources to implement mega development projects to convert it into a global and most favourable City of the world.
He said better provision of clean drinking water, efficient sewerage; sanitation and mass transit system were the main areas for investment of development to change the face of the City.
He was talking to Rachid Benmessoud, country director of the World Bank, who called on him here at the CM House on Thursday.
“Though Sindh government is trying its best and providing huge amount for the development of Karachi. Since the population of Karachi is rapidly increasing and crossed the 20 million due to influx from all over the country, the foreign investment is required to achieve the goals,” he added.
The CM appreciated the contribution and financial assistance being provided by the World Bank for improvement in Education, Agriculture and Water sectors. He said considerable improvement in the social development of the province would be achieved with the investment of World Bank’s financial assistance up to US$400 million in education sector and US$450 million in agriculture and water sectors.
Qaim also appreciated the financial assistance of US$66 million grant of the World Bank for the management sector of education department under the global partnership for education programme which is most probably would be implemented in June 2014. He said Sindh government was providing huge amount to ‘maintain’ law and order in Karachi and trying its best to overcome this issue within the shortest possible time. He said the federal government and provincial government were on the same page so far regarding the development of any sector.
He said Karachi had good potential of investment which could be availed by the foreign investors to whom Sindh government to provide all the facilities.
The Country Director of World Bank, Rachid Benmessaoud took keen interest in the development of Karachi. He said urbanisation was a long term and most difficult subject and it needs leadership, coordination among all the stakeholders to make it a success. He expressed confidence in the leadership of Sindh chief minister to change the face of Karachi and convert it into a modern, most favourable and commercially viable City of the world.