Key Takeaways
- Sindh Government to invest approximately USD1 billion in urban development initiatives.
- ADB and Government of Sindh launch Sindh Secondary Cities Improvement and Investment Programme.
- Programme aims to improve municipal services and support climate-resilient infrastructure.
Sukkur Mayor and Spokesperson Sindh Government Barrister Arsalan Islam Shaikh has highlighted major climate resilience and urban development initiatives for Sindh, following his participation in the Climate Adaptation Investment Planning Forum (CAIP) in Manila.
Shaikh emphasized the urgent need for climate-resilient infrastructure and strategic investment partnerships to address the challenges posed by climate change, including extreme heat, flooding, and water scarcity.
The CAIP Forum, which brought together government representatives, development partners, and international financial institutions, focused on practical solutions through integrated planning and climate-resilient infrastructure.
During the forum, Shaikh met with ADB Vice-President for South, Central and West Asia, Yingming Yang, and expressed appreciation for ADB’s support during the 2022 floods, extending an invitation for a visit to Sindh.
The Government of Sindh, in collaboration with the ADB, is launching the Sindh Secondary Cities Improvement and Investment Programme, one of the largest urban development initiatives in the province’s history.
The programme, which envisages an investment of approximately USD1 billion, aims to improve essential municipal services, including clean drinking water, wastewater management, and solid waste management.
It will also support the development of scientific landfill sites with resource-recovery and revenue-generation facilities, as well as climate-resilient infrastructure, afforestation, and comprehensive master plans based on international standards.
The initiative goes beyond physical infrastructure and aims to stimulate socioeconomic growth, strengthen the economic specialisation and productive potential of each city, and create greater opportunities for youth, women, and vulnerable communities.
Shaikh said the Project Readiness Financing documentation is nearing completion and is expected to be published soon, with public-private partnership projects designed to improve municipal service delivery and generate sustainable revenues.
The programme will also include the Urban Resilience Trust Fund for Sukkur, with a USD2 million grant from The Rockefeller Foundation, the UK Government, and the ADB, supporting climate and heat adaptation investment planning.
Shaikh assured that the assistance is entirely grant-based and carries no repayment obligation or service charges, with international consultants expected to begin their work in November 2026.
