Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah held a detailed meeting with a high-level delegation from the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) on Thursday to review the progress of key initiatives including housing reconstruction for flood victims, WASH projects, and integrated health services for women and children.
During the session at CM House, attended by senior provincial officials and the IsDB team led by Regional Director Dr Walid Abdelwahab, the Chief Minister welcomed the bank’s continued support and reaffirmed Sindh’s commitment to addressing post-flood recovery and public health needs.
The IsDB has committed $200 million for the Sindh Flood Emergency Housing Reconstruction Project (SFEHRP), aimed at rebuilding homes destroyed during the 2022 floods. Murad Shah stated that Rs 75,000 has already been disbursed to 155,000 beneficiaries as the first tranche. Additional instalments-Rs 100,000 each-have been paid to 72,384 and 21,645 beneficiaries as second and third payments respectively, while Rs 25,000 has been released to 1,494 families who have completed reconstruction.
The meeting also addressed Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) initiatives being executed in partnership with NGOs and other global partners. The Chief Minister requested further financial backing from the IsDB for these projects, particularly in underserved and flood-hit areas. The IsDB delegation agreed to extend support.
The second major initiative under review was the Sindh Integrated Health and Women Empowerment Project, a $280 million initiative funded by $50 million from the IsDB, $30 million from the Sindh government, and $200 million through foreign assistance. The project focuses on improving access to Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, Adolescent Health and Nutrition (RMNCAH+N) services in marginalized areas.
Murad Shah shared updates on the rehabilitation of 124 government dispensaries and six Public Health Schools, along with the renovation plans for nine Community Midwifery (CMW) Schools and a Regional Training Institute. Surveys, initial designs, and cost estimates have already been prepared and shared with the bank.
A third-party firm is also being engaged, in consultation with IsDB, to provide skill development training to 6,000 eligible women under the empowerment project.
Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah, Chairman P and D Najam Shah, Secretary Health Rehan Baloch, and CEO SPHF Khalid Shaikh were among those present from the provincial administration. The IsDB delegation included Country Manager Ishtiaq Akbar and Pakistan Representative Muhammad Alio Yazdai.
The meeting underscored a shared commitment to post-disaster recovery and inclusive development through strategic international collaboration.