World Bank approves $300 million funding for water, sanitation initiatives in rural Sindh

ISLAMABAD: The World Bank has approved $300 million in funding to improve access to clean drinking water, sanitation and hygiene facilities for around 1.5 million people in rural Sindh.

The financing will support the first phase of the Sindh Transformational Accelerated Rural Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene Services Project (STAR WASH-1), part of a wider $540 million initiative to upgrade rural utility services and address public health concerns.

The World Bank said unsafe water and inadequate sanitation contribute to childhood stunting by exposing children to repeated diarrhoeal infections, which affect nutrient absorption and development. More than half of children under five in rural Sindh suffer from stunting.

The project will fund climate-resilient facilities, including solar-powered water supply systems, improved sanitation infrastructure and wastewater management.

It will also promote better hygiene practices through awareness campaigns targeting households and communities.

The initiative also aims to develop financially sustainable rural water and sanitation services by transforming the Sindh People’s Housing for Flood Affectees (SPHF) into a dedicated, professionally managed utility company.