The World Bank has approved $150 million in financing for the Sindh Property Revenues Enhancement Programme (Sindh PREP), to help the Sindh government improve urban property tax collection and strengthen municipal service delivery, with Karachi at the centre of the plan.
The programme will benefit Karachi’s 25 local councils, whose 3.58 million residents are its primary beneficiaries. It will support improved collection of the urban immovable property tax (UIPT) and stronger service-delivery capacity in selected local councils.
Karachi currently collects only around $8.5 million a year in property tax, despite being one of the world’s largest cities, while cities of similar size collect far more. The programme aims to raise Karachi’s annual collection to $85 million and lift compliance from 20% to 50%.
Around 70% of the collected UIPT revenue will be reinvested directly in municipal infrastructure and services in the participating local councils.
A separate $40 million Investment Project Financing component will expand property surveys and UIPT administration to 20 local councils in other urban centres of Sindh, indirectly benefiting around 4.5 million people.
Sources: Dawn (World Bank okays $150m plan to boost property tax collection in Karachi, 1 Nov 2026); Express Tribune (WB okays $150m for raising revenue, 1 Nov 2026); Geo News (World Bank approves $150m programme to improve municipal services in Sindh, 1 Nov 2026); Daily Pakistan (World Bank approves $150m to help Karachi raise property tax revenue, 1 Nov 2026) — all agree on $150m, Sindh PREP, 25 Karachi councils, 3.58m beneficiaries, $8.5m to $85m target, 20% to 50% compliance, 70% reinvestment, and the $40m / 20-council / 4.5m component.
Note: This image is an AI-generated illustration and is not a photo of the actual event.