KARACHI, June 20: The Sindh government is implementing the coastal community development programme for the uplift of coastal areas and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) is providing a loan of $36 million to help finance the project.

This was stated by Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah, who also holds the planning and development department portfolio, in a written reply submitted in response to a question raised by MPA Heer Ismail Soho during the question hour in the Sindh Assembly.

Responding on behalf of the chief minister in his absence, Sindh Finance Minister Murad Ali Shah said that the project would help in reducing poverty, providing access to public services and improving the environment in the coastal areas of Thatta and Badin districts.

He said that the total cost of the project was $40.11 million with foreign assistance of Rs850 million. He informed the house that special economic zones were also being established for promotion of agro-industries in the province.

“In the first phase, an economic zone costing Rs1.48 billion is being set up in Khairpur district.”—PPI