ISLAMABAD: The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors has approved $1.692 billion in financing to Pakistan for five projects to support people living in flood-affected areas of Sindh.

According to an announcement by the Washington-based lending agency, three projects support rehabilitation and housing reconstruction and the restoration of crop production for vulnerable communities, while another two projects support health services for mothers and children.

“Sindh was the province worst affected by the 2022 floods. There was huge damage to the housing, health, and agriculture sectors and people lost their livelihoods. Beyond the rehabilitation and reconstruction of damaged houses and infrastructure, our engagement in the flood response effort is an opportunity to strengthen resilience, and reform institutions and governance structures”, said Najy Benhassine, World Bank Country Director for Pakistan.

The first project, Sindh Flood Emergency Rehabilitation Project ($500 million) will help rehabilitate damaged infrastructure, provide short-term livelihood opportunities, and strengthen the government’s capacity to respond to disasters. The project will help restore and improve critical irrigation and flood protection infrastructure, water supply schemes, roads, and related infrastructure.

The second project, Sindh Floods Emergency Housing Reconstruction Project ($500m) will support owner-driven and multi-hazard resilient reconstruction of core housing units. A housing subsidy will provide reconstruction and restoration grants for 350,000 housing units (almost 20pc of the total housing rehabilitation needs for Sindh). Cash grants will be provided for houses with structural damage to partially finance reconstruction or restoration. In addition, basic rainwater harvesting systems and twin pit latrines will be provided to improve access to water and sanitation.

The third project, Sindh Water and Agriculture Transformation Project ($292m) will increase agricultural water productivity, improve integrated water resources management, and restore crop production by flood-affected farmers.

The fourth project, Sindh Strengthening Social Protection Delivery System Project ($200m) will strengthen the provincial social protection delivery system and enhance access to and utilisation of maternal and child health services. The project supports alignment and connectivity with the Federal National Database Registration Authority and will provide conditional cash transfers (CCTs) to 1.3m mothers and their children to support improved maternal and child health outcomes, particularly in the wake of service disruption after the floods.

The 5th and last loan project, Sindh Integrated Health and Population Project ($200m) will help improve both the quality and utilisation of basic reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health and nutrition services.

Published in Dawn, December 21st, 2022