PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government has recently secured loans amounting to over Rs229.76 billion from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for various projects across the province.
Among the projects, Transport and Communication Departments received the highest loan of Rs124.58 billion which is intended to boost the development of transportation and communication infrastructure.
Similarly, the Agriculture Department managed to secure loans worth Rs485 million for three projects of agricultural development, aquaculture development, and livestock development.
Education is also a priority, with Rs3.11 billion secured for a series of projects. These initiatives include teacher training programs, improvements in middle schools, technical education enhancement, and projects focused on girls’ primary and secondary science education.
Energy-related projects have also received substantial support, with loans amounting to Rs47.228 billion allocated for endeavours such as enhancing power accessibility, developing the energy sector, and investing in hydropower infrastructure.
Environmental and health initiatives have not been overlooked. Loans totalling Rs3.817 billion have been obtained for environmental programs, while Rs6.336 billion has been dedicated to strengthening the healthcare system, including women’s health projects and healthcare development programs.
Furthermore, a sum of Rs253 million has been set aside for the Technical and Vocational Training System Project, aimed at boosting industrial skill sets.Â
In the realm of water management and urban infrastructure, loans of Rs5.226 billion have been acquired for various projects. Additionally, a separate project for water and sewage has been allocated Rs1.239 billion.
These loans build upon prior agreements, with the provincial government having secured loans from different international financial cycles, resulting in a cumulative total of Rs1 trillion. The ADB has been a primary contributor to these funding arrangements.
The KP government has embarked on a new project known as KP cities improvement project for which a loan of Rs9.9 billion is being borrowed from the ADB.
