Karachi, November 5, 2026 — The Sindh cabinet has granted retrospective approval for preparations for a proposed $1 billion urban development investment programme supported by the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
The decision was announced following the provincial cabinet meeting on November 4 and covers planned infrastructure improvements in five major cities outside Karachi.
The programme is intended to address gaps in essential municipal services, particularly drinking water supply, drainage and waste management.
Five Divisional Headquarters Included
The proposed investment programme covers Hyderabad, Sukkur, Larkana, Mirpurkhas and Shaheed Benazirabad.
These cities serve as administrative and commercial centres for surrounding districts but face growing pressure on water networks, drainage systems and other municipal infrastructure.
The programme’s proposed areas of investment include improvements to drinking water supply, sewerage and drainage infrastructure, sanitation services and solid waste management.
Such upgrades would support more reliable municipal services and help cities manage increasing demand.
ADB-Supported Programme Preparation
The cabinet’s decision provides approval for the preparation process associated with the proposed ADB-supported investment programme.
Individual projects will still require detailed planning, financing arrangements and the relevant approvals before implementation can begin.
Focus on Secondary Cities
The programme would extend major urban infrastructure investment beyond Karachi to Sindh’s other divisional headquarters.
Improved water and drainage systems are particularly important for cities facing population growth, ageing infrastructure and heavy seasonal rainfall.
The provincial government’s next steps will involve developing the proposed projects and progressing through the necessary financing and implementation procedures.
Source: https://information.sindh.gov.pk/news/senior-minister-for-information-transport-and-mass-transit-sharjeel-inam-memon