PHOTO: AFP
YOKOHAMA: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) will provide financing in form of loans and grants valuing $1.055 billion for nine projects in Pakistan.
According to sources in the ADB, the funds will be provided for water and irrigation sectors between 2017 and 2019.
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The projects, which are to be approved by the ADB, include Balochistan Water Resources ($5 million), Punjab Intermediate Cities Improvement Program - MFF, Tranche 01 ($200 million), Greater Thal Canal Irrigation Project ($50 Million), Balochistan Water Resources Project ($100 million), Jalalpur Irrigation Project ($150 million), Sindh Urban Development Project ($100million), KPK Intermediate Cities Project ($100 million), Cholistan Water Resource Development Project ($150 million) and Punjab Intermediate Cities Improvement Program - MFF, Tranche 02 ($200 million).
Meanwhile, the ADB is also expected to deliver its concurrence for water projects in Balochistan as well as in Sialkot and Sahiwal during the current calendar year.
Briefing media personnel ahead of the annual meeting of the Board of Governors in Yokohama on Thursday, Deputy Director General Amy Leung and Technical Advisor (Urban) Vijay Padmanabhan presented the details of the two projects which are under consideration of the board for approval.
In response to a query, Leung said that the water resources development project costing $100 million is expected to be accorded approval during 2017 for Balochistan. “Integrated water resources information system for Balochistan - the first ever in Pakistan - will ensure efficient water use, disaster risk management and climate adaptation,” she said.
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She explained that with assistance of the free satellite data from JAXA, the Integrated Water Resources Information System, the province will develop a high efficiency irrigation system, which will ultimately lend support to the agriculture sector. Referring to the projects for Sahiwal and Sialkot, Padmanabhan said that the ongoing projects have been designed to improve drainage systems.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 4th, 2017.
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