ISLAMABAD: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Friday announced a $320 million loan programme to support the rehabilitation of roads in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to enhance safe and all-weather connectivity in rural areas.
According to the ADB Country Office press release, The “Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Rural Roads Development Project” will upgrade around 900 kilometers of rural roads in the province that are susceptible to floods and are in poor condition.
“These cover key routes that link remote communities to education, health care, and markets. The project includes measures to incorporate climate-resilient design, road safety enhancement, and sustainable maintenance practices,” the statement added.
Announcing the loan programme, ADB Director General for Central and West Asia Yevgeniy Zhukov said this infrastructure project will reduce travel time, lower transportation costs, and increase access to economic opportunities for millions of residents in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
“By providing better access to markets and services, we are empowering local communities and driving inclusive economic growth in one of Pakistan’s most underserved regions.”
ADB Country Office said that this project will offer technical and financial support to assist the government in preparing long-term targeted interventions that will enhance the climate resilience and sustainability of the province’s road network.
Apart from that, ADB will also help the government conduct a comprehensive study on flood susceptibility, with a focus on landslide vulnerability across the province, to identify priority roads.
ADB Senior Transport Specialist Seunghyun Kim said that the Bank will support the government in preparing concessional contracts for the operation and maintenance of two tourism roads, which will contribute to the sustainability of the road network.
