KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah has said that the Asian Development Bank (ADB) is most important partner of Sindh government in the development of the province. He said, “Out of Rs 28.8 billion foreign assisted projects, ADB is sharing 31.6 percent.” He said this while talking to an ADB delegation led by its Vice President (Operation), Wencai Zhang. The other members of the delegation were Country Director Werner E Liepach, Adviser to Senior Vice President, Huiping Huang, Senior Economist Farzana Noshab. The Sindh chief minister was assisted by Chief Secretary Siddique Memon, Principal Secretary Alamuddin Bullo, Additional Chief Secretary (Dev), Mohammad Waseem, Secretary Finance, Sohail Rajput, and others. Qaim said that the Sindh government with the assistance of Asian Development Bank has launched three important projects, enhancing public private partnership, Sindh Roads Improvement Project and Sindh Cities Improvement Programme at a cost of Rs 11.945 billion. He said that there are some promising projects in the province in which the assistance of ADB was needed which include Karachi Harbour Road and bridge, desalination plants, Mass Transit Project, poverty alleviation, Keti Bander, energy sector including coal and wind power and irrigation projects. ADB VP Wencai Zhang said that he has visited KPT and harbour area. He said, “It is quite important to have a bridge and road connecting the harbour with Norther Bypass and Lyari Expressway which would reduce the burden of heavy and commercial traffic from the city.” He expressed his keen interest to expedite Red Line Rapid Bus Transport (RBT) System with a regular ride of 650,000 passengers. “We would not only establish Redline project but would finalise integration system of different RBTs for the convenience of puvlic”, he said. The ADB VP agreed with the Sindh chief minister that Karachi needs a latest desalination plant to meet water requirement of the city. He appreciated the start of K-IV bulk water project and said Karachi needs extra water for residential and commercial purposes. Wencai said, “He has visited Port Qasim and Korangi Industrial Areas. They are not only beautiful in the sense of planning and development but also most important in terms of their location near highways and the sea. He urged the Sindh government to establish another ‘Industrial Corridor’ keeping in view the under construction China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).” He further said, “You have to take maximum benefit from the project and you must design your future industrial parks and cities.” On this, the Sindh chief minister urged him to assist his government to envisage and work out the new projects as suggested by the ADB vice president. The ADB VP also showed keen interest in Keti Banadr project for which the Sindh chief minister informed him that it was an ancient port and still the site is fit for developing an international seaport. The chief minister told him that the Sindh government has approved some schemes to develop infrastructure at Keti Bander. Wencai said that he would study the Keti Bander site and hoped that it would be great opportunities for public private partnership. He said that he would also explore the opportunities to invest in wind and solar power energy project. Additional Chief secretary (Dev), Waseem, briefed the visiting delegation about the focus of Sindh government on the rural development. He said there are vast opportunities to develop agro-based economy, agriculture, health and energy sectors. The Sindh government and ADB agreed to set together next month to discuss all the development opportunities and start a new partnership of developing urban and rural Sindh.