May 2, 2007 - Keti Bunder is a small town along Pakistan’s Sindh coast in Thatta district about three hours drive from Karachi. But in essence it could be eons away from the neighboring metropolis. Like many other coastal areas in the country, the nearly 2000 people living in Keti Bunder have suffered in recent decades from natural disasters such as floods, water shortages, and drought. The community relies mostly on fishing and labor as a means of income. No agricultural activity in the nearby area is possible. The area is very poor with an average monthly household income of about US$65. Only 3 percent of women and 21 percent of the men are literate. 
Members of Keti Bunder Community Organization explain water purification and filtration process adopted under the IDA funded Integrated Development Project. |
The town’s public services are in poor condition. It has only a half-functional Rural Health Center, and there are no doctors or lady health visitors. To remedy this situation, the IDA-funded Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund’s (PPAF) has joined forces with the Aga Khan Planning and Building Services and local communities to improve access to basic services such as health, education, drinking water supply, and sanitation. The PPAF project in Keti Bandar is a part of the Bank’s Sindh Coastal Area Development Program. In addition to improve basic services, it also aims to increase incomes through micro finance services, better management of coastal natural resources, and development of rural growth centers and reducing physical vulnerability. Only 15 months into the project, the people of Keti Bunder are reaping the benefits. More people have access to clean drinking water, household latrines have been installed, and many of the village’s roads are now paved. “We were living in miserable conditions before these interventions in our village,” said 40-year old Ms. Rasheeda Khanejo. “I tried to convince my family to migrate to some other place for a healthy life, but now life has improved.” 
Female members of Keti Bunder Community Organization discussing their development needs and plans of action with visiting WB team. |
Praful Patel, World Bank Vice President for South Asia Region visited Keti Bunder last week to see the impact of IDA interventions. He met with members of male and female community organizations, and visited development projects dealing with street soling, sanitation, water supply, and waste water management. He also inaugurated a children’s play ground. “The people of Keti Bunder have been forced to move three times due to encroachment of the sea. The mangroves around their village have completely disappeared, and the once lush rice fields are only memories,” Patel said. “Yet, these villagers have hope because they understand that together they are in charge of their own development – and importantly the women are equal partners.” The Sindh Coastal Area Development initiative was developed in close collaboration with the communities themselves. Project officials spent days and nights in the homes of fishermen communities, learning what challenges they face. This intensive interaction has helped everyone involved in the project better understand what needs to be done. “I witnessed the results of this village-level development,” 
World Bank Vice President for South Asia Region, Praful Patel listens to community members . |
Patel said. “They are investing in their community and themselves through improved schools, sanitation, health facilities, and water provision. It is because of committed people such as those in Keti Bunder that I am an optimist.” Mr. Imtiaz Memon, President of the male Community Organization of Keti Bunder, said with improved services like paved streets, sanitation, water filtration and tree plantation, the people of Keti Bunder are benefiting and even the real estate prices in the town have increased. |
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