Water, education: World Bank Board approves $194m for two Balochistan projects
'The GRADES-Balochistan project aims to reduce learning poverty in the province, while the Balochistan Water Security and Productivity Improvement Project will help address the province's water security challenges and enhance climate resilience,' said Najy Binhassine, World Bank country director for Pakistan.
'The World Bank remains committed to supporting Balochistan through strategic investments in infrastructure and human development to build the foundations for more job creation, poverty reduc-tion, and stronger resilience.'
The Getting Results: Access and Delivery of Quality Education Services in Balochistan (GRADES-Balochistan) project ($100 million) will benefit 250,000 students with a focus on increasing enrollment and improving literacy and numeracy skills in early childhood and primary education.
Key interventions include enhancing school readiness through quality early childhood education, increasing school capacity through double shifts and public-private partnerships, providing safe transportation, constructing climate-resilient classrooms, and implementing a comprehensive teacher professional development model.
The project will provide support for 5,000 teachers through continuous professional development programs.
Additionally, scholarships will be provided to 400 female students to pursue teacher pre-service education, fostering a new generation of educators who will serve as mentors and role models.
'The GRADES-Balochistan project is a strategically important initiative that addresses critical gaps in access to and quality of pre-primary and primary education in the province,' said Inga Afanasieva, team leader for the project.
'The project not only aims to enhance educational infrastructure but also to increase resilience to disasters and environmental sustainability.
These efforts underscore the World Bank's commitment to creating a safer and more sustainable future for the children of Balochistan.'
The Balochistan Water Security and Productivity Improvement Project (BWSPIP) ($94 million) aims to improve the lives of smallholder and tenant farmers in the Nari, Talli, and Lehri river basins of the Kachi Plain and improve water supply services in Quetta.
The project is expected to benefit 500,000 people with improved access to basic water supply services and benefit more than 80,000 people by providing climate resilient infrastructure.
Key elements include enhancing flood protection, increasing access to water for productive use, and improving water supply service delivery.
The project will help safeguard communities against climate risks and enhance economic opportunities by increasing the availability of irrigation water, which is crucial for agricultural productivity and economic stability.
'The project supports the implementation of the Pakistan's Resilient Recovery Framework and aims to provide significant benefits for the farming communities in the province as well as for the residents of Quetta.
It will also empower women in community-level water management,' said Carolina Dominguez Torres, task team leader for the project.
'Through strategic investments, improved water management, and community engagement, the project aims to deliver lasting benefits for the sustainable development of Balochistan.'
The GRADES project is designed to reduce learning poverty, while the BWSPIP project is designed to reduce child stunting through increased access to safe water and sanitation services.
Both of these are key outcome targets under the 10-year Country Partnership Framework for Pakistan.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Express Tribune
20 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Aurangzeb vows to close tax loopholes, boost investor confidence
Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb is interviewed during the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors' Meeting at the IMF and World Bank's 2024 annual Spring Meetings in Washington. PHOTO: REUTERS Listen to article Federal Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb on Wednesday pledged to close tax loopholes, enhance investor confidence, and maintain economic reforms, as he addressed the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry's Independence Day event. Aurangzeb said international institutions had welcomed Pakistan's reform measures, while recent Gallup surveys showed rising economic confidence. He noted a 60% growth in the stock exchange, an increase in new investors, and 250,000 new company registrations. Aurangzeb suggested the key policy rate could be cut further this year, citing falls in average and core inflation. Earlier in May, governor SBP, in a press conference along with other Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) members, announced a 100 bps cut, highlighting an improved inflation outlook and signs of moderate economic recovery. Beating the market expectations of a 0-50bps cut, the central bank reduced the policy rate by 100bps to 11% in a meeting," wrote Topline Securities. "We expect interest rates to come down to 10% by Dec 2025." Read: Policy rate slashed to 11% The minister said the government had finalised economic growth-focused agreements with the IMF, reached a favourable tariff deal with the United States, and was working on key accords with China. Panda bonds would be issued by year-end, and a benchmark for Sukuk bonds had been set, the finance czar. Aurangzeb further highlighted ongoing rightsising of 45 ministries, accelerated privatisation of state enterprises, and reductions in electricity tariffs, with further energy cost improvements expected. He assured that taxation reforms would not burden the salaried class and that the prime minister was personally overseeing FBR's transformation. Monthly meetings with chambers would be held to address business concerns. Read more: PM approves creation of digital ecosystem at FBR Calling for unity, Aurangzeb said the private sector must lead economic growth, with the government's role being to provide a favourable business climate.
Express Tribune
a day ago
- Express Tribune
Trade deficit widens 44% in July
Listen to article As Pakistan's trade deficit widened 44% in July due to a sharp rise in imports, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal on Tuesday expressed hope that it would be a "temporary dip," likely to be offset by an increase in exports driven by higher imports of raw materials. While launching the first monthly development report for the fiscal year 2025-26, the minister said the benefit of the lowest US tariffs on Pakistan in the region would depend on exporters' ability to seize the opportunity by penetrating foreign markets. The 44% higher trade deficit in July "is a temporary dip and will be offset by the increase in exports" in coming months, Iqbal said, when asked if the sudden jump was linked to the government's policy of opening the economy for foreign competition. The government reduced import tariffs in the budget as part of conditions set by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank. The Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) reported last week that the trade deficit rose to $2.7 billion, or 44% higher, in July. Authorities said it was too early to assess the impact of trade liberalisation, noting one possible reason for the surge in imports was that importers had delayed consignments to benefit from reduced rates starting in the new fiscal year. Iqbal said the government had revised the initial trade liberalisation plan by lowering duties only on items that could boost exports. He added that macroeconomic stability had strengthened, with exports posting a 17% increase in July, which was a reflection of external sector stability. In July, exports grew by 16.9%, reaching $2.7 billion from $2.3 billion in the same month last year, according to the Planning Commission's monthly report. It added that foreign remittances rose 7.4% last month to $3.2 billion, indicating growing confidence among overseas Pakistanis in the government's economic management and overall stability. When asked about the impact of the US trade deal, under which Pakistan agreed to zero tariffs on over 4,100 tariff lines in exchange for a 19% additional customs duty rate, Iqbal said exporters should capitalise on the lowest tariffs on Pakistan compared to the region. Former US President Donald Trump imposed a 19% additional tariff on Pakistani exports, compared to around 20% for the region, except India which faces a 50% additional tariff. The Pak-US trade deal should not be viewed merely in terms of the number of tariff lines receiving relief, said Dr Imtiaz Ahmad, Pakistan's chief economist, but in the context of a gradual increase in foreign direct investment. The government hopes investors from regional countries will set up operations in Pakistan to export goods to US and EU markets. However, the fine details of the trade deal, including rules of origin, are yet to be finalised. The national development report stated that Pakistan entered the new fiscal year with stronger economic performance, marked by improved fiscal management, a turnaround in the external sector from deficit to surplus, falling inflation, and renewed investor confidence. Despite the IMF's warning of slower global growth and persistent downside risks, Pakistan has achieved macroeconomic stability, said Iqbal. He added that at a time when global uncertainty weighs on developing economies, Pakistan's policy-driven turnaround signals a notable shift in its economic trajectory and a promising start to FY2026. Strong fiscal consolidation reduced the deficit to 5.4% of GDP in FY2025, down from 6.9% the previous year. The external sector posted a $2.1 billion current account surplus, driven by higher exports and record remittances, he said. Iqbal further stated that revised accounts from the Accountant General of Pakistan Revenue (AGPR) showed total development spending in the last fiscal year rose to Rs1.068 trillion, which is a new record. The government had earlier reported Rs1.048 trillion in spending in the fiscal operations data released by the Ministry of Finance last week. The Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) spending now equals 98% of the total annual development budget. In FY2025, 260 projects were monitored, with 40 of strategic nature evaluated. For FY2025-26, the target is to monitor 251 projects and evaluate 50, he said. Iqbal again criticised the finance ministry's strategy of releasing 40% of the total budget in the last quarter, which he argued leads to wastage and strains budgetary resources. "We are in discussions with the Finance Division to withhold only 30% of the total budget for the last quarter and disburse the rest in the first three quarters," said Iqbal. The finance ministry's current quarterly release strategy allows 15% spending in the first quarter, 20% in the second, 25% in the third, and 40% in the last quarter.
Business Recorder
2 days ago
- Business Recorder
Punjab Rural Sustainable Water Supply, Sanitation Project: Govt financing remains below agreed level: WB
ISLAMABAD: The World Bank has pointed out that the government financing for 'Punjab Rural Sustainable Water Supply and Sanitation Project' worth $430 million remains below the agreed level, official documents of the bank revealed. The project development objective was to provide equitable and sustainable access to safely managed water and sanitation and reduce child stunting. The project Mid-Term Review was conducted between April 7-11, 2025 and found the performance of the project 'satisfactory' in terms of both Project Development Objectives and Implementation Progress. Upon completion of the tenure of the earlier Board of Directors, the Cabinet approved a new Board of Directors in June 2025. Karachi water crisis: Experts propose 'sustainable' solutions After Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC)'s authorisation to launch the project in the remaining 1,800 villages, engineering design works were awarded in June 2025. Contracts of piped solutions were awarded for 251 villages. Out of these, 160 villages have started receiving water supply and sanitation services. Works in 40 remaining villages are more than 80 per cent complete. Some of the remaining villages are delayed due to technical and administrative issues Moreover, a second set of civil works contract for 16 villages is expected to be awarded in August 2025. Government financing remains below the agreed level; funds are expected to be allocated in August 2025 based on the new budget, it added. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
