KARACHI, Jan 22: The World Bank will provide more funds for the uplift of fishermen communities in the coastal areas of Sindh, it is reliably learnt. According to Sindh Coastal Development Authority sources, it is likely that the bank will inject US$103 million (Rs6.18 billion) for development activities aimed at improving socio-economic conditions of inland fishermen communities.

It is further learnt that the bank has carried out its own economic survey of the coastal zone of the two southern rural areas —Badin and Thatta- and had initially suggested a package of US$13.50 million for the target area, but later increased it to US$103 million.

The projects to be implemented by the SCDA are expected to be completed in the next two to three years.

The sources also disclosed that the bank would provide funds from its Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Programme although initially funds were to be made available from the on-farm water management programme due to Sindh’s dismal performance in this area since 2000.

The SCDA on its own is beckoning with both the ADB and the World Bank as a coordinator so that the projects launched with the support of two development partners are not overlapped and duplicated.

The Sindh Planning and Development Department has given its full support to the Sindh Coastal Development Authority for its endeavour to bring about socio-economic change in the less developed areas of Sindh with an overall outlay of over Rs9 billion this year.

It is pertinent to note here that the SCDA is currently implementing 22 development schemes worth over Rs270 million in the field of oil palm plantation, mangroves plantation and rehabilitation, shrimp breeding and aquaculture.