The objective of Karachi Neighborhood Improvement Project is to transform Karachi into a more livable, competent and productive mega city. The focus of the project would be to enhance public urban spaces in targeted neighborhoods of Karachi, improve the city capacity to provide selected administrative services and to provide implementation and technical assistance.

Estimated duration for the completion of the project is 4 years.

The project has been allocated a total fund of 98 US Million Dollars.

Government of Sindh has taken an initiative to transform Karachi into a more livable, green and resilient metropolitan city by formulating and following a well thought out Karachi Transformation Strategy with an objective to improve the social economic infrastructure and service delivery in water supply and sanitation, transportation, urban spaces and institutional strengthening and transformation. Based on this strategy Karachi neighborhood improvement project has been conceived.

Component 1: Public Space and Mobility Improvements in Selected Neighborhoods.

Under This component interventions selected neighborhoods (Saddar, Malir and Korangi) are proposed under framework mechanism focusing on enhanced public spaces and pedestrian safety.

Component 2: Support to Improved Administrative Services and City Capacity Development; This component focuses on interventions for Automation of Construction Permits (one window facility for SBCA)and laying the foundation for better Management (IFMIS for KMC).

Component 3: Support to Implementation and Technical Assistance.

The physical development components of KNIP cover interventions in Saddar, Malir and Korangi area of Karachi.

Government Institutions, Local Communities/ Businesses, Educational Institutions, Utilities and Civic Agencies, Prominent NGO’s, Civil Society, Industrial Representatives, Minority and Vulnerable groups.

Site specific Traffic Diversion Plans will be developed by the Contractors and Supervising Consultants in consultation with the relevant Government departments and communicated through PIU to manage smooth flow of vehicular traffic and to avoid traffic jam and long queues.

The project will benefit women in following ways:

Inclusion of voices: In all stakeholder consultation meetings, women are included and their opinions have been incorporated.

Increase access and mobility:The various aspects of the project such as improving neighborhoods through construction of roads and public parks which have designated seats for women directly increase access and mobility of women to the public places. In Saddar parking Piazza, separate area will be allocated for women driver.

Increase safety and security: The project will increase women safety and security by providing proper street lights, pelican crossing, proper road sign, separate washroom for women at park and other public places & separate waiting areas for women at the bus stops.

This project falls under “Category B” of the World Bank Environment Category as the proposed activities are small-scale interventions in terms of rehabilitation, restoration, maintenance on the existing footprints to improve livability, the level of environmental and social impacts is likely to be low to moderate which can be mitigated.

Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP) is an instrument that details (a) the measures to be taken during the implementation and operation of a project to eliminate or offset adverse environmental impacts or to reduce them to acceptable levels; and (b) the actions needed to implement these measures. The project has a three-tier implementation and monitoring mechanism. Overall responsibility for implementation and monitoring of ESMF as well as ensuring compliance with environmental and social safeguards rests with PIU. The PIU has established an Environment and Resettlement Unit (ERU) that consists of experts on social, environment, resettlement, gender and labor aspects. The ERU will guide, coordinate and oversee the preparation, implementation and monitoring of ESMPs. The ERU will hire external consultants for the preparation of individual ESMPs for each sub-project. They will technically review and approve the ESMPs for implementation.

All Goods, Works, Non-Consulting and Consulting Services required for the Project are to be financed out of the proceeds of the Credit which shall be procured in accordance with the provisions of The World Bank Procurement Regulation for IPF Borrowers (July 2016).

There are 05 buildings declared as “Protected Heritage” by the Government of Sindh (Under the Sindh Cultural Heritage (Preservation) Act 1994, located in Subproject area. These include NED City Campus, Victoria Museum (now Supreme Court Building), Di College, Burns Garden and DJ College Extension. Certain PCRs (Physical Cultural Resources) of Sindh are also covered by the Antiquities Act of 1975 which ensures the protection of nominated PCRs across Pakistan. The law prohibits new construction in the proximity (within 200 feet) of a protected antiquity and empowers the Government of Pakistan to prohibit excavation in any area that may contain such articles of archaeological significance. In Karachi, there are 8 PCRs protected under the Antiquities Act of 1975, all are located more than 200 feet from the subproject area.

The project will upgrade the livability status of the neighborhood – through environmental improvement, infrastructure rehabilitation and by creating spaces for social integration. It will also optimize the still existent cultural, social and recreational potential provided by the relevant structures and spaces through utilizing them as catalysts for public space design interventions that are characterized by their inclusive and accessible designs – that rely on creating `places’ rather than `structures’.

The neighborhoods have been selected in consultation with the Government and stakeholders according to such criteria and considerations as potential to demonstrate the project’s impact on livability; complementarity with ongoing or future public investment; low anticipated negative social and environmental impacts; ethnicity and political balance; and potential for engagement with low-income and vulnerable groups (including youth and women).

GRM