Sindh, UNIDO plan $40m rural development partnership

The Sindh government and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization have agreed to expand cooperation on rural livelihoods, climate-resilient infrastructure and employment, with the UN agency planning to mobilise about $40 million for a province-specific development programme. The proposal was discussed in Karachi during a meeting between Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah and UNIDO Deputy Director General Fatou Haidara.

The proposed initiative would operate under Pakistan’s Programme for Country Partnership for 2025–2030. Haidara told the meeting that a programme tailored to Sindh would be developed around the province’s priorities, while Shah said the provincial government was prepared to seek its approval as a priority programme and coordinate with relevant federal institutions.

The $40 million figure represents a fundraising plan rather than money already secured or transferred. The meeting did not announce contributing donors, a financing timetable, legally binding commitments or a detailed allocation of the proposed funding.

Officials also reviewed the Poverty Alleviation and Inclusive Development Across Rural Sindh programme, known as PAIDAR. The European Union-backed initiative is being implemented in Thatta, Sujawal, Badin, Tharparkar and Larkana through infrastructure projects, enterprise grants, technical assistance and institutional support.

An official programme account describes PAIDAR as a €49.55 million partnership running from 2022 to 2027. Its work is intended to improve access to services, strengthen rural businesses and expand employment opportunities, particularly for women and young people: https://www.unido.org/news/unido-and-eu-advance-rural-development-and-financial-inclusion-pakistan.

The meeting was informed that climate-resilient settlement plans had been prepared for around 300 villages across the five participating districts. Following the development of a model village at Lakho Bhambhro in Thatta, support is being extended to another 100 villages, with planned improvements covering drinking water, sanitation, drainage, roads and energy-efficient community facilities.

A skills initiative for 200 young people was also discussed. Proposed training courses lasting between nine and 12 months would cover market-oriented fields including hospitality, electric vehicles and solar technologies, although participating institutions, enrolment dates and selection criteria were not disclosed.

Officials additionally reviewed a digital system for managing Sindh’s development portfolio. They said the platform currently covers 3,715 active schemes and approximately 250 users, while a mobile application and an artificial-intelligence component are being developed. The system is intended to support digital project documentation, monitoring, evaluation and reporting.

The broader country partnership was formally signed by Pakistan and UNIDO in February 2026 and focuses on export development, digital transformation, environmental sustainability, energy transition and social inclusion: https://www.unido.org/news/unido-and-pakistan-sign-programme-country-partnership-advance-green-industrial-growth. The Sindh proposal will require a formal programme design, government approvals and confirmed financing before its announced activities can proceed.