Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has signed a $5 million agreement with the European Union through the Sindh Peoples Housing for Flood Affected (SPHF) for poverty alleviation and inclusive rural development.
In collaboration with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and funded by the European Union’s PAIDAR programme, the Sindh government will launch initiatives focused on climate resilience and sustainable development.
The signing ceremony was held at the Chief Minister House and attended by senior government officials along with representatives from the European Union and UNIDO. The CM emphasised that the agreement reflected his government’s commitment to sustainable rehabilitation, ensuring that communities not only recovered from past devastations but also became stronger and better prepared for future climate challenges.
The initiative aims to restore flood-affected districts by reinforcing infrastructure, rebuilding communities and stimulating economic recovery. The Sindh People’s Housing for Flood-Affected Individuals (SPHF) is already carrying out a post-disaster housing reconstruction initiative with 2.1 million climate-resilient homes currently under development. The CM stated that the agreement was built on this momentum by introducing innovative projects that incorporated green technology, digital mapping and sustainable infrastructure.
According to the CM, the major initiatives under the grant agreement include the Green/Good Bricks Pilot Project, with a budget of Rs 9.9 million. This project would establish an eco-friendly production plant in Thatta in collaboration with InnoCSR (Korean entrepreneurs) and would be a milestone in sustainable construction materials.
Additionally, the Drone-Based Survey and Climate-Resilient Settlement Plan is set at Rs 55.44 million. “We are conducting GIS mapping across Thatta, Sujawal, Badin and Tharparkar, covering 13,846 households to generate critical socio-economic data,” he explained.
He also mentioned that the GIS & Multi-Dimensional Poverty Index (MPI) Dashboard would serve as a real-time digital platform for data-driven planning and rural development in Sindh. Further, the agreement includes communal infrastructure development funding of 5 million euros to enhance public infrastructure across over 150 villages, improving access to essential services.
The Model Village Development in Lahko Bhambro, District Thatta, with a budget of 0.2 million euros, is currently 40 per cent complete. This project aims to set a blueprint for climate-resilient villages, with plans for completion by April 2025.
Regarding the Carbon Credit and Green Growth Initiatives, the CM stated that they were providing technical assistance to unlock funding for carbon credit programmes, which would support long-term environmental sustainability.
“We started with housing and demonstrated that large-scale rehabilitation is possible,” the CM remarked. He added that such efforts were now expanding beyond housing to develop supporting infrastructure that would benefit communities for generations.
“For the first time, we have digital village maps that offer real-time insights into needs and future development. With partners like UNIDO and the European Union, we are not just rebuilding; we are strengthening communities to thrive in the face of climate challenges,” he concluded.
Published in News Daily on 25-February-2025.