The World Bank has termed the overall implementation progress of the Sindh Water and Agriculture Transformation (SWAT) project—valued at nearly $300 million—as unsatisfactory.
The project aims to increase agricultural water productivity in areas managed by selected Farmer Organizations, improve integrated water resource management, and assist small and medium-sized farmers in recovering crop production following the 2022 floods.
In its Implementation Status and Results Report (ISR), the World Bank also rated the progress toward achieving the project’s development objectives as “moderately satisfactory.”
Approved in December 2022, the project seeks to enhance agricultural water efficiency in selected areas, ensure effective integrated water resource management, and support the agricultural recovery of flood-affected farmers.
According to official documents, while progress is ongoing across various components of the project, certain delays have been encountered.
Under the departments of Irrigation and Agriculture, the design of the Hydro-Agro Informatics Program is underway. Key activities under this component are expected to commence in 2026 following the program’s completion.
A draft Water Resources Bill has been prepared and is currently under review by the Irrigation Department. The Law and Parliamentary Affairs Department of Sindh will present the bill to the Sindh Assembly. The proposed legislation will replace the 1879 Irrigation Act and the 2002 Sindh Water Management Ordinance, creating a unified legal framework aimed at improving integrated water resource management and irrigation services.
![Local residents at the Swat River, which is overflowing due to pre-monsoon heavy rains in the area on the outskirts of Mingora, the main town of Pakistan's Swat Valley [Sherin Zada/AP]](https://mmnews.tv/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Flooding-in-Swat-river-75x75.jpg)
