KARACHI (Feb 4): Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah held an in-depth meeting with World Bank Group President Mr Ajay to align Sindh’s development priorities with the World Bank’s jobs-first global strategy and Pakistan’s 10-year Country Partnership Framework (CPF 2026–2035).
Welcoming the World Bank delegation, the Chief Minister acknowledged the Bank’s continued support in achieving Sindh Vision 2030, noting that active World Bank–funded projects in Sindh currently total $ 3.86 billion across multiple sectors. He emphasised that the CPF is fully aligned with Sindh’s long-term development roadmap.
The meeting was attended by provincial ministers, the chief secretary, the chairman P&D, PSCM and other concerned.
Jobs creation:
The World Bank President underscored that the world is entering a major demographic shift, with 1.2 billion young people in developing countries set to enter the workforce in the next decade. At the same time, only 400 million jobs are projected. In Pakistan, where the population is expected to cross 300 million within five years, job creation was described as an economic and stability imperative.
Both sides agreed that private-sector-led job creation, supported by smart public investment, must anchor development policy. CM Murad Shah highlighted Sindh’s focus on Small and New Enterprises (SNEs), particularly to create employment for youth and women.
Water, Sanitation & stunting reduction:
The Chief Minister stressed that access to clean drinking water and maternal and child healthcare are central to reducing stunting in Sindh. He shared that, building on the success of post-flood housing reconstruction, the Sindh government has launched STARS-WASH in rural areas with $ 300 million World Bank support, now co-financed by ADB ($ 100 million).
“Water supply, sanitation, and wastewater treatment require massive, long-term investment. We look to the World Bank as our trusted partner to scale these interventions across Sindh,” the chief minister said.
Urban water systems, including Karachi Water, and the development of wastewater treatment projects such as TP-IV, were discussed as priority areas requiring comprehensive planning along the Indus Basin.
Health & social protection:
On health, Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah proposed scaling up major programs, including Mamta and the 1000-Days Sindh Integrated Health Project, to cover the entire province. He noted that Mamta has already expanded from 15 to 22 districts, while the 1000-Days project involves hiring 1,600 community health workers, a model the government aims to extend to all public health facilities.
The World Bank President welcomed Sindh’s focus on early-life nutrition and discussed expanding the National Health Support Programme, including wider screening of children through Outpatient Therapeutic Programmes (OTP).
Agriculture, SMEs & investment:
Agriculture and agribusiness were identified as high-impact job-creating sectors. The World Bank’s AgriConnect initiative – supporting small farmers to move from subsistence to surplus – was discussed alongside Sindh’s efforts to strengthen value chains and rural incomes.
Murad Shah also proposed a five-year Sindh SME Development and Job Creation Programme (S-SMED), aimed at improving SME access to finance, boosting productivity, formalising businesses, and accelerating women’s economic participation.
Resilient infrastructure & Housing
Both sides reviewed the Sindh Flood Housing Reconstruction Programme, termed a global model for jobs through resilience. The reconstruction of 2.1 million homes, with 1.5 million already underway, is generating local employment while empowering women – over 100,000 women have received land titles for the first time.
Long-term partnership
Concluding the meeting, both sides reaffirmed that development initiatives in Sindh will be pursued as part of a coherent, long-term strategy, not isolated projects. The Chief Minister welcomed the World Bank’s 10-year CPF, stating that Sindh is ready to translate stability into job-rich, inclusive, and climate-resilient growth.
The World Bank President reiterated the Group’s commitment to supporting Sindh through energy, skills, healthcare, agriculture, SMEs, and resilient infrastructure, ensuring that Pakistan’s demographic challenge becomes a source of opportunity rather than risk.
CM Sindh, WB President align on jobs-first growth, water security, human development
