HYDERABAD: The World Bank’s Task Team Leader Francois Onymes has emphasised on the need for coordinated efforts among all institutions to ensure successful implementation of the Sindh Water and Agriculture Transformation (SWAT) Project.
Chairing a review meeting on irrigation and agriculture component activities at the secretariat of Sindh Irrigation and Drainage Authority (SIDA) here on Monday, Onymes received briefings about the progress of the ongoing WB funded projects.
He underscored the importance of expediting preparations for commencement of Akram canal lining works. He said a parallel progress should also be made on the canal’s modernization to enhance service delivery to farmers.
During the meeting, SIDA’s Project Directors Jamal Mangan and Liaquat Bhutto gave detailed briefings about the ongoing and upcoming irrigation schemes.
Mangan informed that SIDA had opened tenders for the lining and rehabilitation of Akram canal, adding that technical and financial evaluations of the submitted bids were currently underway.
He added that following the approval of detailed studies for Dadu Canal and Rice Canal the National Engineering Services Pakistan (Pvt) Limited had initiated the works.
The PD apprised that the selection phase for Farmers’ Organizations (FOs) under the canal modernization initiative had been completed, with work on 3 FOs organizations expected to begin by the end of February, 2026. PD Bhutto, meanwhile, briefed that the process of issuing the Sindh government funded peasant cards had been set in motion while the government also aimed to expand the farmer subsidy program.
The World Bank delegation included Co-Task Team Leader Oliver Durand, Water Specialist Zelalam Mekonnen, Senior Environment Specialist Alphonse Imad, Senior Procurement Specialist Ayalo Kebede, Social Protection Advisor Naseer Memon, Agriculture Advisor Muhammad Riaz, and Senior Program Assistant Shabnam Naz.
The SIDA’s Consultant Wali Muhammad Naich was also presented during the meeting besides other officers from the authority, the Sindh Agriculture Department and the project consultants.
