The World Bank has approved $108 million in additional financing for the Rural Accessibility Project ($78 million) and the Integrated Tourism Development Project ($30 million) to help achieve the objective of improving access to health and education services, markets and jobs, in a manner that strengthens resilience to natural disasters in the province.
“By rehabilitating critical rural road infrastructure and enhancing disaster preparedness, the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Rural Accessibility Project and the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Integrated Tourism Development Project are not only improving access to essential services like health and education, but also fostering climate, economic resilience and creating job opportunities for local communities,” said Najy Benhassine, World Bank Country Director for Pakistan.
The $78 million in additional financing for the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Rural Accessibility Project will focus on providing safe and climate resilient road infrastructure by upgrading and rehabilitating rural roads, thereby improving access to services such as schools, healthcare, and markets. The project also supports safe and affordable transport to school for girls. Overall, around 1.76 million people are anticipated to benefit from the project.
“This additional financing underscores the World Bank’s commitment to supporting Pakistan’s and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province’s development goals,” said Muhammad Bilal Paracha, task team leader for the project. “The project is crucial for improving the lives of people in the province, particularly women and girls, by enhancing access to essential services and economic opportunities,” he added.
The $30 million in additional financing for the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Integrated Tourism Development Project will help enhance the province’s tourism sector by completing the rehabilitation of two roads that will improve access to the province’s pristine tourist spots. It will also support technical assistance and capacity building for the tourism industry and public sector stakeholders. The additional financing will support better destination management, heritage conservation, and the integration of digital platforms in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa’s tourism industry.
“The project is encouraging responsible tourism in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa in collaboration with public and private sector stakeholders,” said Kiran Afzal, task team leader for the project. “This means better roads, improved tourist facilities, and more opportunities for local communities to benefit from the growth of the tourism economy. The project will create jobs, train local people, and preserve the country’s rich cultural heritage,” she added.