Sindh prepares 13 projects to get loans from Friends of Pakistan

KARACHI - The Sindh government has prepared a list of development projects to be presented before the coming meeting of the Friends of Pakistan Forum, scheduled to meet in Tokyo next month, officials told The Nation.
The projects ranging from mines and mineral to education and health sectors involve estimated cost of over Rs20 billion.
The Economic Affairs Division of federal government through a letter to Sindh government last month sought the list of development schemes for which the funding could be raised from the Friends of Pakistan Forum.
An official of Planning and Development Dept Sindh told The Nation that the detail and concept paper of 13 projects had been finalized so far which will be sent to the concerned ministry of federal govt within few days.
Giving the detail of proposed schemes official said that the Sindh govt had prepared the concept of projects relating to mines, mineral, sewerage, education and health sectors which could be initiated with joint ventures of Friends of Pakistan Forum countries.
Sindh government has proposed a project to develop the minerals at Sonda-Thatta district with estimated cost of Rs6 billion ($74.441m) with joint venture of foreign countries. The golden marble and other minerals were found in the vicinity of Sonda which are unique in the world, officials said, adding that there are no facilities for extraction and processing of minerals in Sindh.
The project will open a new window of opportunity of employment of the local people of rural areas, official said.