Lack of funding delays flood plan

The Fourth National Flood Protection Plan has been delayed due to the federal government's failure to secure the required funding from local and international donors, leaving targets to protect millions of acres of agricultural land, homes and infrastructure from floods unmet.

According to documents available with The Express Tribune, the required financial assistance for the plan has not been secured from major international donors, including the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the World Bank and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

The plan was prepared by upgrading the flood protection framework after the devastating floods of 2022. The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) had approved the updating of the plan in September 2022.

On the prime minister's directives, risks associated with flash floods and hill torrents were also incorporated into the updated plan. The plan sets a target of protecting 15.761 million people, 8.05 million acres of agricultural land and 2.2 million houses from potential flood damage.

It also includes measures to protect 331 kilometres of roads, 64 villages, 223 tubewells and agricultural infrastructure. As many as 3,825 farming families are expected to benefit directly from the planned interventions.

However, implementation of the plan has been affected by the absence of timely financing.

According to the documents, 80 per cent of the total financial requirement is to be met through donor financing, while the federal government is to provide 20 per cent equity and the provincial governments 10 per cent.

The required foreign funding for the project is estimated at Rs155.7 billion.

The funding shortfall has raised concerns over the feasibility of implementing the plan in its existing form, particularly as the country remains vulnerable to recurring floods and flash floods.

The documents recommend reducing the overall project cost and focusing on priority schemes given the financial constraints. The Economic Affairs Division has also been directed to take immediate steps to arrange financing for the plan.

The delay comes against the backdrop of the devastating 2022 floods, after which the government sought to strengthen and broaden the country's flood protection strategy by incorporating emerging risks, including flash floods and flooding in hill torrents.

The Fourth National Flood Protection Plan intends to protect human settlements and agricultural land, as well as key infrastructure, including roads, villages, tubewells and other agriculture-related facilities.