World Bank approves $150 million for Sindh property tax collection and Karachi services, reports say

The World Bank Group’s Board of Executive Directors has approved $150 million for the Sindh Property Revenues Enhancement Program (Sindh PREP), according to a World Bank news release issued on 31 October 2026 and reported by the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP), Radio Pakistan and The Nation. We read all three on 1 November. We could not open the World Bank release, and could not find it on the World Bank’s own site, so this is an attributed report and not a check against the primary document.

What the reports say

• Purpose. To help the Sindh government raise urban immovable property tax collection and to build the service capacity of selected local councils, with a focus on Karachi.
• Karachi’s figures. APP and The Nation give Karachi’s annual property tax collection as about $8.5 million, with a target of $85 million a year. They also give a compliance rate rising from 20 percent to 50 percent.
• Reinvestment. APP and The Nation say about 70 percent of the property tax collected is to go back into infrastructure and services in the participating councils, such as drainage, sewerage, schools, fire stations, roads and street lighting.
• Other councils. A $40 million investment financing component is to extend property surveys and tax administration to 20 local councils in other Sindh urban centres.
• Conditions. APP and The Nation say funding is tied to annual performance assessments. APP adds that an independent verification agent carries them out.
• Why the Bank says it matters. Radio Pakistan, APP and The Nation each say Sindh’s local councils get more than 95 percent of their revenue from provincial transfers. The World Bank’s Pakistan country director is quoted on the value of cities raising their own revenue.

What the reports do not say

• Any new tax rate, valuation change or deadline for property owners.
• Any change to what property owners pay.
• A start date, duration or closing date.
• The number of properties in Karachi’s tax base.
• How the remaining amount, beyond the $40 million component, is divided.

Radio Pakistan’s version is shorter and gives none of the figures above except the $150 million total and the 95 percent figure for provincial transfers.

What owners can check

The reports describe financing for a program, not a change in what owners pay today. Karachi property owners may wish to check their current urban immovable property tax bill and any notice with the Sindh authorities that issue it. This is separate from the federal advance tax on property purchases and sales, which our guide to advance tax under sections 236C and 236K explains. We will update this article if the World Bank or the Sindh government publishes the program details.