Bilawal briefed on Sukkur’s $1 billion development, Climate Resilience Plan

SUKKUR, Oct 08 (APP): Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari held a detailed meeting with Mayor Sukkur and Sindh Government Spokesperson Barrister Arsalan Islam Shaikh to review Sukkur’s urban development roadmap, civic services and climate resilience initiatives.

During the meeting on Thursday, Barrister Arsalan Islam Shaikh briefed the PPP Chairman on the performance of Sukkur Municipal Corporation, ongoing projects, municipal reforms and measures being taken to improve quality of life for citizens.

The Mayor said Sukkur Municipal Corporation is undergoing a major digital transformation to create a modern, efficient and paperless municipal system. The initiative, he said, will improve service delivery, transparency and citizens’ access to municipal services.

Briefing on water and sanitation, Barrister Shaikh said a major clean drinking water project for Sukkur has been prepared under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode. The plan and operational model are ready and awaiting approval from the PPP Policy Board. Once approved, the project will provide clean drinking water to over 650,000 citizens and more than 100,000 households in the city.

On sewerage, he informed that over 50 percent of Sukkur’s wastewater is now being treated before discharge into the River Indus, with a target to achieve 100 percent treatment in the next phase. He added that steps are being taken to protect the ecology and biodiversity of the Indus River, including conservation of the Indus River Blind Dolphin and freshwater turtles.

Barrister Shaikh also briefed the Chairman on the climate adaptation and urban development plan presented at the Climate Adaptation Investment Planning Forum (CAIP) at the Asian Development Bank (ADB) Headquarters in Manila.

He said the Sindh Secondary Cities Improvement and Investment Programme, being implemented jointly by the Government of Sindh and ADB, is one of the major urban initiatives for the province.

Under the programme, an investment plan of around US$1 billion is envisaged for Sindh’s five divisional headquarters — Sukkur, Hyderabad, Larkana, Mirpurkhas and Shaheed Benazirabad.

The programme focuses on clean drinking water, modern sewerage and wastewater management, solid waste management, scientifically designed landfill sites and resource recovery facilities. It also includes climate-resilient infrastructure, urban forestry, tree plantation and comprehensive master and sectoral development plans.

He said the programme aims to go beyond infrastructure and strengthen cities’ economic potential, enhance productive capacity and create employment and economic opportunities for youth, women and vulnerable communities.

Documentation for project readiness financing is nearing completion, which will also include PPP projects to improve urban services and create sustainable revenue streams for municipal institutions.

In another major development, Barrister Shaikh informed that a US$2 million grant has been approved for Sukkur under the Urban Resilience Trust Fund for Climate and Heat Adaptation Investment Planning.

He clarified that it is a grant, not a loan, and carries no repayment obligation, debt servicing or service charges.

The grant will help develop investment-ready projects, mobilize additional financial resources and strengthen long-term planning to protect the city from extreme heat, with special focus on low-income families, informal settlements and vulnerable communities. International consultants are expected to start work in Sukkur in November 2026.

Briefing on major city projects, the Mayor said the international-standard “Ladies World” project will provide women a safe and healthy recreational and social space, with facilities including a walking track, swimming pool, gymnasium and library.

He said the Gadani Phatak Overhead Bridge will significantly improve connectivity between two key tehsils of Sukkur, directly benefiting around 350,000 citizens.

He stressed that Sukkur’s development vision is not limited to roads and bridges but aims to build a modern, sustainable and economically vibrant urban system linking improved civic services with economic opportunities for youth, women and entrepreneurs.

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari appreciated the development initiatives in Sukkur and stressed that sustainable urban development must be further strengthened and its benefits must reach citizens directly. Provision of quality public services and improvement in living standards must remain the top priority, he said.

Barrister Arsalan Islam Shaikh thanked Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari for his special interest in Sukkur’s development and said that under PPP’s leadership, all available resources and modern planning approaches are being utilized to transform Sukkur into a modern, clean, green and climate-resilient city.