Islamabad: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has sanctioned a grant to refurbish 900 kilometers of roads in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) that were damaged by recent floods, as part of a broader effort to bolster infrastructure and connectivity in the region.

According to Zameen.Com, the funding is part of a larger package of three projects valued at USD 658.8 million, designed to enhance infrastructure resilience, support education, and improve agricultural productivity in KP. This investment is expected to aid Pakistan’s recovery from economic challenges exacerbated by last year’s floods and the ongoing cost-of-living crisis.

Yevgeniy Zhukov, ADB’s Director General for Central and West Asia, highlighted the importance of this initiative in promoting sustainable growth in Pakistan. The funding includes a USD 300 million policy-based loan for the Improved Resource Mobilisation and Utilisation Reform Program, aimed at enhancing tax administration and public expenditure management. An additional USD 275 million will support the Sindh Secondary Education Improvement Project, which plans to rebuild up to 1,600 flood-damaged schools with climate-resilient structures.

Furthermore, the ADB will provide an USD 80 million concessional loan for the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Food Security Support Project, aimed at bolstering food security and enhancing rural livelihoods through critical agricultural support and training for smallholder farmers, with a focus on empowering women and improving nutritional outcomes.