ISLAMABAD -Asian Development Bank approved loan for government of Punjab.
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $15 million loan that willhelp seven cities in Punjab design comprehensive investment and publicservice delivery plans in preparation for upcoming urban developmentprojects.
The loan will fund the preparation of spatial master plans, detailedengineering designs, and operational business plans for projects inBahawalpur, Dera Ghazi Khan, Multan, Muzaffargarh, Rahim Yar Khan,Rawalpindi, and Sargodha.
It will help ensure a high level of readiness ahead of the ensuing Punjaburban development projects and complement ADB’s existing technicalassistance to Pakistan to conduct feasibility studies and exploreinnovations to improve the quality of urban services.
“The Government of Punjab has taken a proactive role in tackling urbandevelopment challenges in the province,” said ADB Senior Urban DevelopmentSpecialist for Central and West Asia Jude Kohlhase.
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This loan will help the local governments improve spatial and urbanplanning, prepare environmental assessments, put in place gender actionplans with a special focus on gender equality, and incorporate climateresilient designs for priority investments.
Pakistan has experienced rapid urbanization as rural populations havemigrated within the country to find jobs.
Urban development challenges are most pronounced in cities in Punjab, whichaccount for 53% of Pakistan’s urban population and experience problems likepoor quality water, ineffective wastewater and solid waste management, andsevere traffic issues because of lack of public transport and poor trafficmanagement.
