The World Bank approves $240 million in financing to enhance water and sanitation services in Karachi – Trendy Blogger

The World Bank has approved $240 million in financing for the Karachi Water and Sanitation Services Improvement Project II (KWSSIP-2) to provide safely managed water, sanitation and hygiene services in Karachi.

“Safely managed water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services are the foundation of public health and quality of life and are key to addressing the stunting crisis in Pakistan,” Naji Ben Hussein, World Bank country director for Pakistan, said in a statement.

“The KWSSIP-2 project will scale up investments in bulk water augmentation, water treatment, wastewater treatment and reuse, water distribution, and sewage rehabilitation. About half of the beneficiaries will be women, and 58% will be youth (aged between 15 and 24 years old), in addition to more than half a million people in kachiabadi (informal settlements).

The project builds on the KWSSIP-1 project and will finance and expand several investments to enhance Karachi’s water supply, sewerage, sewerage and treatment infrastructure across the city. In addition, the project will improve water and wastewater infrastructure and help expand safe drinking water and sanitation services in several kachiabadi areas (informal settlements), benefiting more than half a million people.

The long-term benefits of the project include lower costs of using alternative water sources, reduced time spent collecting water, and health benefits from reducing waterborne diseases.

“The KWSSIP-2 project will also continue to address the gender gap in recruitment, representation and leadership at the Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation (KWSC) through gender-inclusive recruitment plans to recruit more women into technical and decision-making positions,” Khairy said. Al-Jamal, head of the project team.

“It will support technical training for women, institutionalize the internship program for female graduates and create pathways for them to find employment within the company, and support the promotion of female employees to higher positions.”

The project will provide safely managed water supply to approximately 16 million people and sanitation services to approximately 7.5 million people in Karachi by 2030. It will also improve the performance and financial sustainability of KWSC and strengthen private sector partnership in WASH service delivery.

This project is the first phase of the World Bank Support Programme for Urban Water, Sanitation and Hygiene in Pakistan which aims to reach 33.5 million people with safely managed water, sanitation and hygiene services by 2035. It will co-finance the KWSSIP-2 project. Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank with $240 million.

In addition, there will be a government contribution of $250 million, and financing for the private and commercial sector is expected to reach $269 million.

This project is part of a World Bank regional initiative or program in South Asia to provide water, sanitation and hygiene services to approximately 100 million people across the region by 2035.

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