KARACHI, Feb 19: The Sindh Planning and Development Minister, Shoaib Bukhari, has called for induction of professionals and experts into the Sindh Coastal Development Authority (SCDA) to broaden its role.

He was presiding over the final workshop of the Sindh Coastal and Inland Community Development Project (SCICDP) organized by the SCDA in collaboration with the Asian Development Bank on Saturday.

The project is jointly being funded by the ADB through a grant of Rs38.81 million and the Sindh government contributing Rs93.808 million to it.

The minister said the SCDA had to assume the role of a future “focal authority” for developmental activities worth more than Rs9 billion in the coastal areas of Thatta and Badin.

He was of the firm belief that the SCICDP’s logical conclusion by March would see injection of $50 million by the ADB and an anticipated funding of $103 million by the World Bank in 2006.

Referring to the mid term report, the minister said the SCDA mandate under the CDA Act of 1994 should not be “belittled” and it should not be seen as a cell of the provincial government.

Bukhari suggested preparation of an economic viability of oil palm plantation extensively and comprehensively.

Pakistan’s edible oils import bill stands at Rs50 billion, which can be curtailed by Rs35 billion by undertaking oil palm plantation on 500,000 acres of the coastal belt, which is rich in nutrients, has ideal moisture and humidity level, and posses fresh water.—APP