World Bank's Karachi Neighbourhood Improvement Project faces delay

KARACHI: World Bank’s development projects in the metropolis, including the “Karachi Neighborhood Improvement Project” launched in Shahrah-e-Kemal Ataturk, have been facing delays and are far from completion despite passed deadlines.

World Bank had launched the "Karachi Neighborhood Improvement Project” in March last year as part of its “Pakistan Vision 2025”. The project near Sindh Secretariat and surrounding areas was to be completed within 10 months but is nowhere near completion.

The roads near and surrounding Sindh Secretariat, SM Law College and Burns Road were dug up for the project and have been a source of difficulty for residents and passers-by as they cause traffic jams.

Under the project, public spaces in targeted neighbourhoods of Karachi are to be enhanced to improve the city’s capacity to provide selected administrative services. The project’s aim is to improve the education, environment and traffic system in Saddar Town, Malir and Korangi in three phases.

In its first phase, the aim of the Rs1.4 billion project is to provide a clean and healthy environment around educational institutions. The first phase also includes improving public spaces to meet international standards and improving the flow of traffic.

The second phase includes working on administrative affairs while the third phase pertains to implementation and technical work.

However, not even a single phase of the project has been completed.