ISLAMABAD: The World Bank has approved $300 million in financing to expand access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene services for 1.5 million people in selected rural areas of Sindh.

The financing will support the Sindh Trans­formational Accele­rated Rural Water Supply, Sanitation, and Hygiene Services Phase 1 Project (STAR WASH-1), the World Bank’s resident mission in Islamabad announced on Saturday. The project is expected to generate more than 14,000 jobs and support the formalisation of the Sindh People’s Housing for Flood Affectees as a rural water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) utility company.

“Stunting is among Pakistan’s most severe and persistent human capital challenges, and unsafe water, sanitation and hygiene is a major underlying driver. By expanding access to these services for 1.5m people in rural Sindh, this project will help address one of the root causes of child stunting,” said Bolormaa Amgaabazar, the World Bank country director for Pakistan.

Unsafe water and poor sanitation expose young children to repeated bouts of diarrhoea, impairing nutrient absorption and limiting their physical and cognitive development. More than half of children under five in rural Sindh are stunted.

STAR WASH-1 aims to provide 1.5m people with access to safe drinking water and safely managed sanitation and hygiene services.

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

Published in Dawn, November 15th, 2026