CM reviews ADB portfolio in Sindh, expresses satisfaction

KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah presided over a high-level meeting to review the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) portfolio in Sindh as of December 2025, expressing satisfaction over the scale of ongoing development cooperation while calling for faster implementation and improved disbursement.

The meeting, held at CM House, was attended by Provincial Ministers, Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho, Syed Sardar Shah, Jam Khan Shoro, Zulfiqar Shah CM’s Special Assistant on Public Health Saleem Baloch, PSCM Agha Wasif, Chairman P&D Najam Shah, and SMBR Khalid Hyder Shah.

The Chief Minister was told that the ADB currently has five active projects in Sindh, with a total investment of $ 1.319 billion, covering major sectors including transport, education, health, social development, financial sector reforms, and water and urban development. Overall, the portfolio shows 67 per cent contract awards and 38 per cent cumulative disbursement so far.

“The Asian Development Bank remains one of Sindh’s most important development partners,” Chief Minister Murad Shah said. “These projects are critical for improving mobility, strengthening education and health services, supporting housing reconstruction, and enhancing climate resilience across the province. However, timely execution and accelerated disbursement must remain our top priority.”

The chief minister reviewed progress on major transport sector initiatives, including the Karachi Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Red Line Project and the Emergency Flood Assistance Project for Sindh. Chairman P&D Najam Shah told the CM that while contract awards for the flood assistance project have reached over 90 per cent, disbursement needs to be further expedited to ensure relief and rehabilitation efforts continue without delay.

BRT Red Line: Referring to the BRT Red Line, the Chief Minister stressed the importance of resolving implementation bottlenecks. “Mass transit projects like the Red Line are essential for Karachi’s future,” he said. “Any delays directly affect millions of commuters. We must ensure that all executing agencies work in close coordination to meet revised timelines.”

Minister Education Sardar Shah briefed the CM on progress in the education and social development sector, particularly the Sindh Secondary Education Improvement Project and its additional financing, which together represent a significant investment in strengthening public education. Murad Ali Shah noted that human development projects require sustained focus. “Education and skills development are long-term investments,” he said. “These initiatives will determine Sindh’s social and economic trajectory for decades.”

Copyright Business Recorder, 2025