THATTA: The Sindh government has secured financial assistance worth Rs14 billion from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for a major water supply and drainage rehabilitation project for Thatta and Sujawal districts.

This was stated by provincial Minister for Works, Services and Prisons Ali Hassan Zardari while speaking to journalists here on Saturday.

He said that the project would focus on upgrading the drainage network and restoring the Jam Branch canal system, a key water artery serving the region.

The minster said that the project would also facilitate the interconnection of Keenjhar and Haleji lakes, helping improve freshwater distribution, strengthen the local ecosystem and support agricultural activities in the tail-end areas.

He expressed his confidence that the initiative would address the longstanding drainage issues and improve water availability situation, besides contributing to environmental sustainability across the two districts.

Referring to the country’s economic situation, Mr Zardari observed that all provincial governments were facing serious financial constraints due to reduced revenue transfers.

“Provincial budgets have come under immense pressure because of lesser than targeted revenue collection by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR). Sindh’s budgetary capacity has been substantially affected, as have those of Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan,” he said

The minister added that the Sindh government was actively engaging its international development partners, including the ADB, to ensure that critical infrastructure and public welfare projects were not affected by financial constraints.

He pointed out that an acute shortage of water was prevailing in lower Sindh, and said that the PPP leadership had taken a serious notice of the situation.

He said Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah and the irrigation minister had already approached the relevant federal authorities to ensure a fair and equitable distribution of water among provinces.

During his short stay in Thatta, Ali Hassan Zardari visited the bereaved family of renowned irrigation engineer, water expert and author Engineer Mohammad Obayo Khan Khushk to offer his condolences.

The minister was accompanied by Thatta District Council Chairman Abdul Hamid Panhwar, PPP youth wing leader Zamin Ali Zardari, Shahnawaz Lohar and Ghulam Nabi Sheikh.

They expressed their deep shock and grief to Dr Yaqoob Khushk, Abdul Sattar Khushk, Abdul Aziz Khushk and other members of the bereaved family over the demise of Obayo Khan Khushk.

Paying tribute to the late engineer, Mr Zardari described him as one of Sindh’s most respected figure and a strongest voice on water issues.

“Engineer Obayo Khushk dedicated his entire life to the cause of safeguarding Sindh’s water rights. Through his professional expertise, research and writings, he consistently highlighted issues affecting the province’s share of water and advocated evidence-based solutions,” the minister said.

Published in Dawn, June 14th, 2026