Murad, IFC official agree to explore investment opportunities

KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah and International Finance Corporation Division Director for Pakistan Simon Andrews have agreed to explore collaboration in important sectors including digital infrastructure, renewable energy, agriculture, healthcare, human capital development, and social protection.

This understanding was reached at a meeting held at CM House, attended by Minister for Planning & Development Jam Khan Shoro, Chief Secretary Sindh Asif Hyder Shah and others.

The IFC delegation included Naz Khan and Sahar Etezaz.

During the meeting, the Chief Minister highlighted Sindh’s commitment to attracting investment in strategic sectors and discussed the establishment of an international data center in the province, as well as, expanding renewable energy generation for the private sector.

“We are focused on creating an enabling environment for investment in emerging sectors, particularly digital infrastructure and renewable energy, which are critical for economic growth and job creation,” said Murad Shah.

The discussion also focused on strengthening agriculture value chains, improving storage and processing facilities, and enhancing farmers’ livelihoods through mechanisation.

Highlighting the challenges faced by small farmers, the Chief Minister said: “A large number of our farmers are small landholders owning up to 25 acres. We want to help them mechanise their farming by encouraging neighbouring growers to form groups and jointly benefit from government-subsidised tractors.”

Shah added, “When two or three farmers cultivating adjoining lands together, we can support them with subsidised tractors, enabling them to improve productivity and make better use of their land.”

The IFC Division Director for Pakistan expressed interest in supporting initiatives aimed at improving human capital, particularly in healthcare, nutrition, and skills development.

Discussions included collaboration on Sindh’s stunting reduction programme and efforts to enhance children’s health and educational outcomes.

“The future of Sindh depends on healthy, educated and skilled young people. We are investing in programmes that improve healthcare, reduce stunting and equip our children with the skills needed for tomorrow’s economy,” the Chief Minister said.

Simon Andrews appreciated the Sindh government’s reform agenda and reiterated IFC’s commitment to supporting sustainable and inclusive development initiatives in the province. “IFC sees significant opportunities to partner with the Government of Sindh in sectors that can generate long-term economic and social impact, including digital infrastructure, renewable energy, agribusiness, healthcare and human capital development,” said Andrews.

The meeting also discussed addressing workforce shortages in the healthcare sector, particularly nursing.

The Chief Minister shared his vision of substantially increasing the annual output of trained nurses in Sindh. “We want to produce at least 15,000 nurses every year to meet domestic demand and create opportunities for our skilled professionals internationally. The government is prepared to seed this initiative, while encouraging private sector participation for its long-term sustainability,” he said.

Recognising the shortage of trained nursing professionals in Pakistan, both sides agreed to work together on developing a comprehensive model for basic nursing education and specialised training.

The Chief Minister directed his team to engage closely with IFC experts to identify collaborative opportunities across healthcare, agriculture, social protection and human capital development. “We look forward to working with IFC to translate these ideas into practical projects that improve livelihoods, create jobs and deliver better services to the people of Sindh,” the Chief Minister concluded.

Andrews reaffirmed IFC’s willingness to deepen engagement with Sindh and explore innovative financing and investment solutions to support the province’s development priorities.

The meeting also reviewed opportunities for collaboration on climate-resilient infrastructure and the integration of climate risk considerations into Public-Private Partnership (PPP) projects across Sindh.

The IFC Sustainable Infrastructure Advisory Team proposed providing technical assistance to support the incorporation of climate risk assessment and adaptation measures into the development, appraisal and management of PPP projects. Discussions are currently underway to identify priority areas of cooperation.

The Sindh PPP Unit requested IFC advisory support in three important areas, including capacity building for project teams, development of climate resilience guidelines, and the integration of climate risk assessment tools into PPP project planning and structuring processes.

“We must ensure that our infrastructure and development projects are designed to withstand the growing impacts of climate change. Building resilience into project planning is no longer optional; it is essential for sustainable development,” Murad Shah said.

He emphasised the importance of strengthening institutional capacity to address climate challenges and welcomed IFC’s support in developing climate adaptation frameworks and resilience-based project design standards.

Simon Andrews said IFC was committed to helping Sindh build climate-smart infrastructure and strengthen the resilience of its development investments. “Integrating climate risk considerations into project development and management helps protect investments, improve sustainability and ensure that infrastructure delivers long-term benefits to communities,” he said.

“Sindh remains on the frontline of climate change. Every new infrastructure project must be designed with resilience and adaptation in mind so that public investments remain sustainable and beneficial for future generations,” Murad Shah said.

“IFC is keen to support Sindh in mainstreaming climate risk management and adaptation measures into infrastructure and PPP projects, helping build a more resilient and sustainable development model,” said Andrews, IFC Division Director for Pakistan.

Both sides agreed to continue consultations on establishing a comprehensive framework for climate risk assessment, adaptation planning and resilience-focused PPP project development in Sindh.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026