WB extends $442mln for Punjab’s rural social projects

ISLAMABAD: World Bank on Saturday signed a financing worth $442.4 million for lifting the social infrastructure of thousands of remote villages in Punjab, where water and hygiene were a serious health issue, a statement said.

Noor Ahmed, Secretary Ministry of Economic Affairs, inked the financing agreement for the ‘Punjab Rural Sustainable Water Supply and Sanitation Project’ on behalf of the government, while Najy Benhassine, Country Director World Bank represented his organisation.

This project aims to provide equitable and sustainable access to clean drinking water, improve sanitation, and reduce child stunting in Punjab Province.

The project interventions will cover 2,000 villages including 2,000 main settlements and 8,000 small settlements in sixteen (16) Districts of Punjab province that are the poorest and have the worst social infrastructure and stunting issues.

In line with the vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan to ensure equitable and inclusive socioeconomic opportunities, eight (8) districts from South Punjab i.e., Bahawalnagar, Bahawalpur, DG Khan, Lodhran, Multan, Muzaffargarh, Rahim Yar Khan, and Rajanpur are included in the project. Furthermore, eight other districts from Central and North Punjab i.e. Bhakkar, Chakwal, Chiniot, Jhang, Khushab, Mianwali, Pakpattan, and Sarghodha are also included after due diligence.

The project will directly impact the life of common man and create employment opportunities in the rural areas. The government will invest in social infrastructure and improve service delivery to provide potable water through cost-effective and sustainable investments, provide safely managed sanitation facilities to reduce the total fecal burden in the village environment, and raise awareness and promote behavioral change for better hygiene practices at the household and community level to promote health and ensure the sustainability and quality of the water source.

The project interventions will directly benefit six million rural people of Punjab and help reduce the incidence of stunting among children aged 0-3 (40 percent) in Punjab. Minister for Economic Affairs, Omar Ayub Khan appreciated the World Bank’s efforts by highlighting it was a signature project which reflected the vision of the Prime Minister of Pakistan to invest in human capital and to improve the living standard of the people.

The minister further stated that today’s event was a reflection of continued confidence by the IFIs on the government’s policies, economic reforms and people-centric programmes.

Ayub reiterated the commitment of federal government to extend all possible support to the provincial governments in their efforts to invest in human capital by addressing challenges to health & education; building resilience, improving service

delivery and promoting economic opportunities to ensure inclusive and sustainable economic growth in the country.

Secretary, EAD (Economic Affairs Division), thanked the World Bank Country Team for extending their continuous support to Pakistan to help achieve sustainable economic development.

Country Director World Bank Najy Benhassine, ensured the World Bank’s continued financial and technical support to the government in achieving the priority development objectives and promoting inclusive and sustainable economic growth in the country.