CM, ADB Country head discuss Sindh’s development priorities

KARACHI, Sep 23 (APP): Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Wednesday reaffirmed his government’s commitment to strengthening its long-standing development partnership with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) during a meeting with Emma Fan, Country Director of the ADB Pakistan Resident Mission.

The meeting, held at the Chief Minister House, was attended by Education Minister Syed Sardar Ali Shah, Chairman Planning & Development Board Najam Ahmad Shah, Secretary School Education Zahid Abbasi, Secretary to Chief Minister Asif Jameel, PD SSEIP  Rizwan Soomnro and others. And ADB representatives, including Principal Country Specialist Shaoukat Safi and Principal Project Officer Khurram Imtiaz.

The discussions focused on Sindh’s development priorities, ongoing ADB-supported projects, future investment opportunities, and preparations for the implementation of major initiatives in education, transport, health, digital transformation, and rural development.

Welcoming Emma Fan and her delegation, Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah appreciated ADB’s continued support for Sindh’s development agenda and highlighted the successful collaboration between the Sindh l government and the development partner across multiple sectors.

The Chief Minister also recalled the successful hosting of the Asia-Pacific Shelter and Settlements Forum (APSSF) 2026 in Karachi. Ms Emma Fan congratulated the Sindh government on the successful organisation of the forum and praised the province’s commitment to advancing sustainable and resilient development.

The Chief Minister and ADB Country Director also reviewed progress under the Sindh Secondary Education Improvement Project (SSEIP), one of the province’s flagship education initiatives.

Under the original ADB-financed SSEIP, 10 newly constructed secondary school buildings have been completed and are being operationalised as part of a phased commissioning programme. Selected schools scheduled for inauguration include GGPS Gharo-II, GGPS Public School Makli, and Thatta, GBPS Malik Moosa Chowhan.

The project aims to construct 116 modern secondary school blocks across 10 districts of Sindh, significantly expanding access to quality education, especially for girls and underserved communities.

The Chief Minister noted that the completion of the first schools marks a major milestone and demonstrates the government’s commitment to improving educational opportunities across the province.

CM Murad Ali Shah said, “Education remains our highest development priority. The completion of the first batch of schools under SSEIP is not merely a construction milestone; it is an investment in the future of Sindh’s children. We are committed to ensuring that every child, particularly in rural and underserved areas, has access to safe, modern and quality learning facilities.”

Our partnership with ADB has delivered tangible results for the people of Sindh, he said, adding that  we are determined to maintain momentum and complete more than 200 schools by the end of this year and over 800 schools under various programmes in the coming months.

Officials informed the meeting that Teacher training for 2,630 secondary school teachers in five key subjects has been completed. Teacher training manuals have been developed, accredited and notified. Laboratory equipment has been provided to 100 schools. Examination reforms have been successfully implemented across all seven Boards of Intermediate and Secondary Education. OMR-based examination systems have been introduced to improve transparency and efficiency.

The project’s physical progress stands at approximately 59 per cent, while implementation continues toward its revised completion schedule extending to December 2027.

ADB Pakistan and the chief minister agreed to secure the project director’s tenure until the project is completed.

The meeting also reviewed progress under the Sindh Secondary Education Improvement Project – Additional Financing (SSEIP-AF), a major post-flood reconstruction initiative.

The programme aims to rebuild 722 flood-damaged schools across five districts using climate-resilient and gender-responsive designs.

Minister Education Sardar Shah informed the meeting that procurement and award of major civil works have been completed, construction activities are underway across hundreds of schools, temporary learning arrangements have already been established, and physical progress has reached approximately 54 per cent.

Under the phased completion programme, 495 reconstructed schools are expected to be handed over between October 2026 and June 2027.

The Chief Minister and ADB team also reviewed preparations for the proposed Second Additional Financing (SAF) programme.

The initiative seeks to mobilise approximately $125 million for construction of around 125 climate-resilient secondary schools, teacher professional development and capacity building, expanded examination reforms and digital assessment systems, STEM, ICT and digital learning facilities.

The programme also includes a proposed $10 million IFFEd grant which officials noted requires timely approvals to secure the financing window.

Ms Emma Fan informed the Chief Minister that ADB’s Country Programming Mission has been engaging with Sindh departments to discuss future cooperation priorities and project pipelines for 2026-2030.

The mission reviewed proposed investments in the Karachi Circular Railway (KCR), Sindh Nursing and Health Workforce Strengthening Project, the Digitalisation and AI Enablement Project, Sustainable Mobility Project Sindh, and Sindh Accelerated Transformative Rural Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (STAR-WASH).

Emma Fan said: “ADB values its strong partnership with the Sindh government and remains committed to supporting initiatives that improve education, mobility, health services and climate resilience. The progress achieved under SSEIP demonstrates what can be accomplished through effective collaboration and shared commitment.”

She added: “We look forward to working closely with the Government of Sindh on future investments that promote inclusive growth, strengthen human capital and improve the quality of life for communities across the province.”

During discussions on the Karachi Circular Railway, Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah reiterated the provincial government’s commitment to resolving outstanding issues related to land and right-of-way requirements.

The Chief Minister stated: “The Karachi Circular Railway is a transformative project for the city and has been awaited for many years. The Government of Sindh will work with the federal government and all stakeholders to address outstanding issues and move the project toward implementation.”

The meeting agreed that the next steps would include finalising terms of reference, confirming land availability and advancing project design work.

ADB also briefed the meeting on the proposed Sindh Nursing and Health Workforce Strengthening Project, for which approximately $100 million has been earmarked.

The proposal includes private-sector participation to modernise nursing education and strengthen healthcare workforce development across Sindh.

The Chief Minister directed that the Health Department be fully engaged in consultations to maximise the project’s impact.

The meeting also reviewed the proposed Sustainable Mobility Project Sindh, which would improve public transport systems in Hyderabad, Sukkur and Larkana.

ADB informed the meeting that approximately $300 million has been allocated for the initiative. The Chief Minister described the project as critical for improving urban mobility and directed departments to expedite planning and implementation preparations.

Chairman P&D Najam Shah briefed the meeting on progress under the Karachi Bus Rapid Transit (KBRT) Red Line Project, a flagship sustainable transport initiative supported by ADB and international financing partners.

The 26.6-kilometre corridor, stretching from Malir Halt to Numaish, is expected to directly benefit approximately 1.5 million residents by providing safe, efficient and environmentally sustainable public transport.

The project is currently under active construction, with utility relocation works nearing completion and major corridor works progressing across multiple sections.

Sindh Education Minister Syed Sardar Ali Shah said the SSEIP programme represents one of the most significant investments in public education infrastructure in Sindh’s history.

Syed Sardar Ali Shah said:  “These schools are not simply buildings; they are centres of opportunity, innovation and social transformation. Through SSEIP, we are creating learning environments that equip our children with the knowledge and skills required for the future.”

Concluding the meeting, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to expanding cooperation in education, climate resilience, transport, healthcare and digital governance.

The Chief Minister thanked ADB for its continued support to Sindh’s development agenda and expressed confidence that ongoing and future initiatives would accelerate inclusive growth, improve public services and create greater opportunities for the people of the province.

The meeting ended with a vote of thanks and a shared commitment to advancing transformative development projects across Sindh.