The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has committed $50 million (Rs 3 billion) for projects in diverse segments of the economy in the coastal zone of Sindh.
This was stated by Ghulam Sarwar Khero, additional Chief Secretary Planning & Development, while chairing the tripartite meeting of the Sindh Coastal and Inland Community Development Project (SCICDP) held here under the auspices of the ADB.
He informed that World Bank has also evinced interests in coastal zone of Sindh with a $13.50 million project "Supporting Vulnerable Communities in Thatta and Badin" having three components of Community Investment Fund (CIF)- $10.0 million. Mangroves Rehabilitation and Ecosystem Management- $2.0 million, and Project Management and Monitoring and Evaluation - $1.50 million.
Munawar Uppal, Director General of Sindh Coastal Development Authority (SCDA), informed the meeting that an Integrated Coastal Zone Management master plan for coastal areas of Sindh is currently under preparation costing of Rs 48.840 million, of which ADB grant is Rs 39.00 million, with the cooperation of all major stakeholders by March, 2006.
He informed the meeting that the investment in projects will be identified on the basis of the subject feasibility study of policy and institution, natural resources; coastal resource management; coastal fisheries Infrastructure; rural sociologist/community develop; gender and development; coastal environment; rural structure; enterprise development, farming system/crop development; fisheries; coastal institutions and policy, geographic improvement; alternative energy, hydrogeologist; oilseed crops; marine fisheries; and mangroves development.
Uppal said that the SCDA is currently implementing projects worth Rs 279.200 million, including rehabilitation and propagation of the drought-affected coastal mangroves of Thatta District; planting of salt resistant tree species in the coastal zone of Sindh; marine fisheries surveillance in the coastal areas of Sindh; pen culture demonstration in the coastal creeks and back waters of Sindh; low cost feed development for brackish and marine fish culture; aqua-culture development in the coastal areas of Sindh; improvement of livestock in the coastal areas of Thatta and Badin districts; rural water supply scheme at village Ismail Alano, Thatta district, feasibility study/designing for construction of Shah Bandar Jetty; preparation of feasibility report for model farms along with oil-palm extraction plant of 2 tonnes per hour capacity.
Ms Vidisha, the ADB mission leader, on the occasion emphasised the need of community participation while planning projects.
Simon Tiller, the ADB technical assistance leader, said that the Sindh coastal and inland community development projects are multi-sector approach study from development of agriculture land to upgradation of fisheries and aimed to develop physical and social infrastructure to raise income and improve social conditions in selected coastal areas of Thatta and Badin districts.
Tiller further stated that the technical assistance shall focus to build coastal fisheries and other related resource management institutions through replication of successful approach for implementation of policies, effective use of management intervention, which shall result in improved sustainable livelihood and enhance rural resources management for poor coastal communities.
The meeting was attended among others by secretaries environment and alternate energy, agriculture, fisheries and livestock, representatives of Pakistan Fisher Folk Forum, IUCN, WWF, EDOs of Thatta, Badin and Karachi and additional secretary finance and consultants of ADB TA.
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