ADB approves $320m grant for road rehabilitation in K-P

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a grant of $320 million to rehabilitate roads in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) that were damaged by recent floods, as reported by Radio Pakistan on Wednesday.

Heavy monsoon rains from June to September have resulted in nearly 350 fatalities and hundreds of injuries in Pakistan, particularly in the K-P and Punjab provinces. The floods caused extensive damage to thousands of homes due to flash floods, landslides, and other rain-related incidents.

The K-P Rural Roads Development Project will utilise the approved funds to upgrade approximately 900 kilometres of flood-affected rural roads. The Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) will oversee the implementation of this project.

It was stated that, under this project, effective measures will be taken to design and construct sustainable roads that can withstand the impacts of climate change. 

In December 2023, ADB approved three projects totalling $658.8 million aimed at enhancing Pakistan’s domestic resource mobilisation, rehabilitating schools damaged by the August 2022 floods, and boosting agricultural productivity to improve food security.

ADB has been actively engaged in various projects, including the K-P Cities Improvement Project. 

This initiative aims to enhance the livability of five major cities—Abbottabad, Kohat, Mardan, Mingora, and Peshawar—by expanding urban infrastructure investments in water supply, sewerage, solid waste disposal, and green initiatives. 

The project also seeks to provide institutional support to improve service delivery, enhance the performance of municipal companies, and promote gender-friendly municipal services through empowerment and capacity development.

Since its establishment in 1966, ADB has committed over $52 billion in loans, grants, and financing to Pakistan, one of its founding members, to support inclusive economic growth in the country.