KARACHI: The Sindh government and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JAICA) have agreed to launch two different projects for improvement of livelihood and well-being of female home-based workers and establishment of Maternal and Child health Center at Liaquat University Hospital, Jamshoro worth Rs4.16 billion.
The JAICA would also provide technical and engineering solution of traffic congestion in Karachi.
This decision was taken in a meeting between Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah and President JAICA Shinichi Kitaoka accompanied by Consul General of Japan Toshikazu Isomura, Hiroo Tanaka, Chief Secretary of President Office, Shone Hara Director General of South Asia Dept, Nobuhiro Kawatani Director South Asia HQs and others.
The chief minister said that his government has submitted a concept paper of the project, Improvement of Livelihood and wellbeing of female home-based workers. The concept paper was approved in the larger interest of female workers. Therefore, he wanted the project may be approved so that it could be started in 2020.
The President JAICA approved the project to be started in 2020 and its completion would be in 2023. The overall size of the project has been estimated at Rs541.086 million of which JAICA’s share would be Rs435.729million.
The remaining amount would be provided by Sindh government.
The project is about improving the livelihood skills and managerial abilities of female home-abased workers and mainstreaming them in formal labour market.
MCH Center: Another project which came under discussion was the establishment of maternal and Child Health Center at Liaquat University Jamshoro. The cost of the project would be Rs3623.040 million of which JICA’s share would come to Rs181.152 million and rest of the major amount would be provided by the provincial government.
The project was approved in the meeting and would be started in 2020 and to be completed within two years, 2022.
Traffic Solution: The chief minister told the JAICA’s high power delegation that the issues of traffic congestion in the city of Karachi were on the increase day by day. The widening of roads and construction of flyovers and underpasses have served very little to resolve the issue.
He said that the best traffic engineering was the only solution to resolve the issue. At this the JAICA President assured the chief minister that his experts would provide traffic engineering solution of the city. He added that his team would survey the roads and conduct the study so that a solid solution could be given.
Chairman P and D Mohammad Waseem would coordinate with JICA team for starting survey and study.
The JAICA delegation also assured the Sindh government that it would support it in urban transport development.
The meeting also reviewed the progress of JAICA sponsored projects. They are as follows:
Livestock Project: The chairman P and D briefing the meeting said that Sustainable Livestock Development in Rural areas of the Sindh project was launched in 2013 for Rs 910 million with Rs227.06 million Sindh government’s share.
The project is aimed at increasing rural farmers’ income and asset in whole of the province through increasing milk and meat production. The project would complete in the end of 2020.
The meeting was informed that the project was very close to successful completion and it has been able to achieve intended objectives of increased milk and livestock production.
Children Hospital: The Sindh government with the assistance of JAICA upgraded 70-beded Children Hospital North Karachi to 200 beds. The project was started in 2012 and was completed in 2015 at a cost of Rs1137.061 million in which Sindh government share was Rs227.061 million while JAICA provided Rs910 million.
Chairman P and D Waseem told the meeting that the hospital was functional and providing healthcare services to the children of the area. The visiting team expressed satisfaction on the functionalization of the project.
Upgradation of schools: The education department had launched a project of upgradation of Girls Primary School into Elementary Schools in rural areas of the province for Rs2076.98 million in which JAICA shared Rs1667.96 million whereas Sindh government gave Rs409.02 million.
The meeting was told that the project was started in 2013 and was completed in 2013.
Under the project 54 primary schools have been upgraded into elementary schools in Norther and southern districts of the province. Of these 54 schools, 29 have been upgraded in six Southern districts and 25 schools have been upgraded in Northern districts.
The chief minister termed JAICA as one of the best development partners of the Sindh government. The Chief Minister presented his shield, Ajraks and Sindhi caps to the visiting guests.