ADB to provide $1.055 billion financing for nine projects

YOKAHAMA: The Asian Development  Bank will provide  financing, including loans and  grants worth $1,055 million  for nine projects in Pakistan,  particularly in water  and irrigation sectors during  2017/19.  Nine projects in the four  provinces - Balochistan, Punjab,  Sindh and KP will be financed  by the bank after approval  during the years  2017/19, sources at the Asian  Development Bank said on  Wednesday on the eve of 50th  annual meeting of its board of  governors, scheduled for May  4 to 7.  The projects to be approved  by the ADB for financing,  including loans, grants  and identified co-financing of  $1,055 million for 2017/19 included  Balochistan Water Resources  ($5 million), Punjab  Intermediate Cities Improvement  Program - MFF, tranche  1 ($200 million), Greater Thal  Canal Irrigation project ($50  million), Balochistan Water  Resources project ($100 million),  Jalalpur Irrigation project  ($150 million), Sindh  Urban Development project  ($100 million), KP Intermediate  Cities project ($100 million),  Cholistan Water Resource  Development project  ($150 million) and Punjab Intermediate  Cities Improvement  Program - MFF, tranche  2 ($200 million).  The Asian Development  Bank is expected to deliver its  concurrence for water projects  in Balochistan province,  as well as two cities of the  Punjab province, including  Sialkot and Sahiwal during  the current calendar year.  Briefing newsmen ahead  of the annual meeting of the  board of governors, Amy  Leung, deputy director general  and Vijay Padmanabhan,  technical adviser (Urban),  Sustainable and Climate  Change Department, the ADB  presented the details of the  two projects, which are under  consideration of the board for  approval in 2017.  To a query, Leung said that  water resources development  project for Balochistan, costing  $100 million is expected  to be accorded approval during  2017.  Integrated water resources  information System for  Balochistan – first-ever in  Pakistan will ensure efficient  water use, disaster risk management  and climate adaptation,  she added.  Having good use of free  satellite date from JAXA, the  Integrated Water Resources  Information System (WRIS),  will develop high efficiency irrigation  system, besides efficient  use of water and fertiliser,  ultimately lending support  to the agriculture sector,  she added.  Referring to the projects  for Sahiwal and Sialkot, costing  $200 million, to be approved  by the Asian Development  Bank, Padmanabhan  said that these ongoing projects  and have been designed  to improve drainage systems,  besides creating public and  green spaces to reduce the  impact of urban heat, addressing  climate change  issue.  The projects, including  water treatment plant for  Sahiwal and Sialkot - two  cities adjacent to China–Pakistan  Economic Corridor  (CPEC) are scheduled for approval  by the Asian Development  Bank this year, he  added. —APP