ADB approves
$ 100 million to Pakistan for drought mitigation
ISLAMABAD- The Asian Development Bank (ADB) Thursday approved
an assistance
package of $100 million for emergency assistance for Drought
Impact Mitigation and
Recovery in Pakistan. Earlier, at the request of the
Government of Pakistan, ADB had
fielded a mission, which visited the country form May 21-31,
2001.
The purpose of the mission was to verify/assess, and gather
additional necessary
information regarding the economic losses caused by the
drought, impacts of the drought on poverty, household
food security, and household and community access to social
services. The mission visited selected drought affected areas
in Sindh and Balochistan and held detailed discussions with
provincial governments. Subsequently, the mission held
extensive discussions with the Federal government.
The wrap-up meeting of the mission, attended by all provincial
representatives was held
here on May 30, 2001. Further discussions were held with the
Government on May 31
2001. The objectives of the assistance are to support the
Government's efforts to mitigate the ongoing effects of
drought in Pakistan's most adversely affected regions, and to
provide critical conservation measure,s and supporting
infrastructure and services, to restore agricultural growth in
these regions when the drought has ended.
Assistance in four major areas would be supported under the
approved assistance package are: Water Resources, Rural Access
Roads, Agriculture, Livestock, Forestry, and Rangelands and
the Health Care The assistance is envisaged to be implemented
in three years. To coordinate the assistance arrangements, the
Government has established a National Steering Committee at
the Federal Level. Provincial and District Implementation
Committees are being established. The assistance package would
be implemented through the newly established District
governments... august 16
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