KARACHI, Aug 17: Manuel Contijoch, a senior water resource specialist at the World Bank’s rural development sector for South Asia Region, called on Sindh Chief Secretary Fazalur Rahman here on Wednesday.

Mr Manuel, who is a member of the WB’s pre-appraisal mission on Sindh water sector improvement project, discussed the water sector improvement project (WSIP) with Mr Rahman. Additional Chief Secretary (Development) Ghulam Sarwar Khero and MD of SIDA Brig (r) Abdul Haque were present at the meeting.

Spanning over a period of five-and-a-half years (2006-2012), the WSIP will cost $170 million. It will cover the area of Nara Canal, Ghotki Feeder and Left Bank canals as well as studies for barrages.

The project components envisages (i) capacity building and social mobilization; (ii) improved asset management, including network improvement/rehabilitation/modernization and drainage improvement; (iii) project management and evaluation; (iv) rehabilitation of Sukkur Barrage.

The chief secretary assured the WB Mission of the government’s full cooperation.—APP