Latest news with #WorldBank-funded
Express Tribune
13 hours ago
- Health
- Express Tribune
SHCC introduces online registration of clinics, hospitals
Sindh Healthcare Commission (SHCC) has introduced online facilities for registration and licensing of clinics and private hospitals. In this regard, Sindh Healthcare Commission has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Sindh Business One Stop Shop (SBOSS) under the World Bank-funded Competitive & Livable City of Karachi (CLICK) project, under which the process of registration and licensing of healthcare institutions across Sindh has been made completely online. In this regard, the commission Chairman Dr Khalid Hussain Sheikh told The Express Tribune that now the registration of clinics and hospitals has been made easy. With the cooperation of CLICK Project Director and Healthcare Commission, digital services will be provided from manual. SHCC CEO Dr Ahsan Qavi Siddiqui referring to the online portal, said that the Board of Commissioners has entrusted them with the responsibility of automating the registration of doctors and hospitals. He also shared details about a broader digital transformation of Sindh healthcare using the ERP system, which is 80 per cent complete. SHCC Board of Commissioners Member Dr Mirza Ali Azhar said that the main objective of the initiative is to simplify the registration of hospitals and clinics while ensuring the rights of healthcare providers and their patients.
Business Recorder
15 hours ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
Punjab budget: $428.54m foreign-funded uplift projects included
LAHORE: Foreign-funded development projects of USD 428.54 million have been included in Punjab budget for FY 2025-26. These projects focused on improving water supply & sanitation, urban development, environment, irrigation, agriculture, physical infrastructure, health, education, skills development and IT & governance. As per budget document, foreign engagement in Punjab's development financing primarily takes two forms: project-based loans and grants (Foreign Project Assistance) and programme-based loans (budgetary support). Loans obtained from multilateral donor agencies through the Federal government for specific foreign-assisted development projects are termed as Foreign Project Assistance. Programme loans, on the other hand, provide direct budgetary support, linked with indicators and results, named Disbursement Linked Indicators and Result Based Lending. The Punjab government, in line with its policy parameters on foreign borrowing, is guided by a preference for concessional financing and longer maturities, ensuring long-term fiscal sustainability. World Bank-funded projects are: Punjab Clean Air Programme, Getting Results: Action, Delivery of Quality Education Services; Punjab Rural Sustainable Water Supply & Sanitation Project (PRSWSSP); Punjab Resilient and Inclusive Agriculture Transformation Project (PRIAT); Punjab Urban Land Systems Enhancement (PULSE) Project; Punjab Human Capital Investment Project; Punjab Resource Improvement and Digital Effectiveness; Punjab Family Planning Programme (PFPP); Punjab Affordable Housing Programme (PAHP); National Health Support Programme; Punjab Tourism for Economic Growth Project (PTEGP); Punjab Cities Programme and Punjab Green Development Programme (PGDP). The ADB-funded projects included: Construction of Jalalpur Irrigation Project; Punjab Intermediate Cities Improvement Investment Programme; Project Readiness Financing (PRF) for Punjab Water Resources Management; Project Readiness Financing for Punjab Urban Development Projects; Improving Workforce Readiness in Punjab Project; Developing Resilient Environment and Advancing Municipal Services (DREAMS) in Punjab; Responsive Ready and Resilient STEM Secondary Education in Punjab. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
2 days ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
World Bank-funded project under Pesco: HEC seeks relaxation in bidding criteria
ISLAMABAD: The Heavy Electrical Complex (HEC) has formally sought a relaxation in the bidding criteria for a World Bank-funded project under the Peshawar Electric Supply Company (PESCO). In this regard, HEC's Chief Executive Officer (CEO) has approached the WB Country Director, outlining the reasons for seeking amendments to the bidding conditions. PESCO is set to procure 18 power transformers of 132/11.5 kV, 40 MVA capacity through a WB-financed tender. HEC has recommended including a specific clause in the bidding documents that would enable fair participation of the recently privatized national enterprise. World Bank team briefed about Pesco's new projects According to the HEC CEO, the company is a well-established and reputable entity—Pakistan's only power transformer manufacturer—with operational experience dating back to 1998. To date, it has supplied 340 transformers, including 40 MVA units, to WAPDA, NTDC, K-Electric, and all distribution companies (Discos). The CEO stated that these transformers have performed reliably in the field for over 25 years without a single reported failure, earning full satisfaction from all stakeholders. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
New Indian Express
6 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Coastal erosion worsens in Kerala; projects worth Rs 5,000 crore yet to take off
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Frequent sea surges and alarming levels of erosion continue to batter Kerala's 590-km shoreline, displacing thousands of coastal residents year after year. Studies show that over 55% of the state's coastline is vulnerable to erosion. Given the lack of funds for large-scale intervention to protect the shoreline, the state government has collaborated with international agencies like the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the World Bank for external financial assistance. However, even after three years, the state government is unable to launch any of the projects, estimated to be worth Rs 5,000 crore, sparking concern among the coastal communities. According to officials, the preparatory work to claim this external funding has been on for the past three years and the funding is expected to materialise soon. An official with the irrigation department told TNIE that the National Centre for Coastal Research (NCCR) had submitted a preliminary report for the Coastal Protection Project under the World Bank-funded Resilient Kerala Programme three months ago, and the project has been launched. The official said the state is gearing up for a more comprehensive environmental and social impact assessment, to be carried out by an external international consultant, which is a mandatory requirement for the World Bank project. It is learnt that NCCR has recommended a slew of interventions ideal for each of the 30 critical locations including beach nourishment at Shankumukham, seawalls, and offshore breakwaters. 'Unlike the projects executed by the state, such externally funded projects have to go through a lot of complicated procedures and demand more studies. We are in talks with the authorities in the Netherlands who have done a lot of work in coastal conservation. If it doesn't work, we will invite an expression of interest to rope in a consultant,' the official said. The project aims at implementing climate-resilient coastal infrastructure, restoring natural buffers, and strengthening community-based disaster preparedness. The state is expecting Rs 4,000 crores as external funding from the ADB for coastal conservation in nine districts. According to officials, the project has been placed for Union cabinet approval. 'Once the government gives the green signal, an official agreement will be signed with ADB,' said the official. A study carried out by the Kerala University a couple of years ago revealed that 647 acres of coastal land along a 58km stretch in Thiruvananthapuram has been lost to the sea in the past 14 years.
NDTV
05-06-2025
- Business
- NDTV
World Bank Lifts Lending Freeze Over Uganda Anti-LGBTQ Law
The World Bank is lifting a freeze on lending to Uganda it put in place in response to a 2023 law criminalising homosexuality, after taking steps to counter discrimination, it said Wednesday. Uganda's anti-LGBTQ law, one of the most severe in the world, provides for harsh sentences for same-sex relations or "promoting" homosexuality, including the death penalty in some cases. After longtime President Yoweri Museveni signed it into law in May 2023, the World Bank halted all new loans to Uganda, saying projects it financed had to adhere to its non-discriminatory policies. Since then, "the World Bank worked with the government and other stakeholders in the country to introduce, implement and test measures that prevent discrimination in World Bank-funded projects," a spokesman told AFP. "We have now determined the mitigation measures rolled out over the last several months in all ongoing projects in Uganda to be satisfactory," he added. "Consequently, the Bank has prepared new projects in sectors with significant development needs," which will be presented to the World Bank's board, he said. "All new projects have the mitigations measures embedded in them," he added. "The World Bank cannot deliver on its mission to end poverty and boost shared prosperity on a liveable planet unless all people can participate in, and benefit from, the projects we finance." Uganda has lost between $586 million and $2.4 billion a year because of the anti-LGBTQ law, notably because of frozen financing, British charity Open for Business estimated last year.
