KARACHI, Dec 6: The Asian Development Bank has expressed overall satisfaction over the implementation of projects in Sindh; however, it showed some reservations regarding educational projects.

These views were expressed in a meeting of the Provincial Portfolio Review Mission (PPRM) with representatives of the Asian Development Bank held on Monday. The meeting was chaired by the Sindh Minister for Planning and Development, Syed Shoaib Ahmed Bukhari.

The meeting was attended, among others, by the Acting Additional Chief Secretary (Development), Anzar Hussain Zaidi, secretaries of concerned administration departments and project directors of ADB-financed projects in Sindh. The ADB team was led by its country director, Mashuq Ali Shah.

The ADB representatives emphasized the need for accelerating the pace of social sector projects. They especially urged that the implementation of the Sindh Rural Development Project, Sindh Road Sector Development Project, Decentralized Elementary Education projects (DEEP) and Developed Social Services Project (DSSP) be stepped up.

The ADB mission asked for audit reports and appreciated work done by Sindh with regard to the DERA and the NDP programmes. It was pointed out that ADB would approach all administrative departments separately.

The minister, Shoaib Bukhari, appreciated the coordination by the ADB in the province's development activities. He assured the mission that the Sindh government would do its best to ensure that targets envisaged for the projects were met, and pending issues, if any, taken care of by the dates agreed between the ADB and the administrative departments. - APP