The World Bank has approved additional $ 108 million in financing for two crucial development projects at Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Pakistan. Financing will support efforts to improve access to social services, improve tourism and increase resilience to natural disasters in the province.
Financial support includes $ 78 million for the Rural Accessibility project of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KPRAP) and $ 30 million for the Integrated Tourism Development project of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (Kite). Both initiatives aim to improve infrastructure, create job opportunities and improve access to essential services for local communities.
The KPrap project will focus on rehabilitating and improving rural roads, with a particular emphasis on making these paths resistant to climate. These improvements will improve connectivity to vital services such as medical care, education and markets.
In addition, the project will ensure that girls have safe and affordable transport to schools, thus promoting gender equality in education. It is expected that around 1.76 million people will benefit from these improvements.
“This project is crucial to improve people’s lives in the province, particularly women and girls, improving access to essential services and economic opportunities,” said Muhammad Bilal Paracha, leader of the KPRAP task team. “The highway updates will foster not only greater accessibility but also climate resilience in the region.”
Financing of $ 30 million for the Kite Project is designed to support the development of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa’s tourism sector. This will include the rehabilitation of roads that lead to key tourist destinations, which facilitates that visitors access virgin locations in the province.
The project will also provide technical assistance for better destination management, heritage conservation and the integration of digital platforms within the tourism industry. In doing so, the initiative aims to create new job opportunities, train local communities and preserve the rich cultural heritage of the region.
“The comets project encourages responsible tourism in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa by collaborating with the interested parties of the public and private sector,” said Kiran Afzal, leader of the Kite task team. “By improving roads and tourism facilities, we are helping local communities to benefit from the growth of the tourism economy.”
The World Bank’s investment in these projects highlights its commitment to support Pakistan’s long -term development objectives, particularly in the face of climate change and natural disasters.
The approach in both infrastructure and tourism underlines the importance of sustainable development that creates lasting social and economic benefits for communities.
“These projects are not just about improving roads and infrastructure, but about promoting climate and economic resilience,” said Najy Benhassine, country director of the World Bank in Pakistan. “They will improve access to essential services, create job opportunities and improve the lives of millions of people in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.”
With the support of the World Bank, it is expected that both Kprap and Kite will promote significant progress in the improvement of livelihoods, promote economic development and improve climate resistance in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, a province that houses various communities and rich natural resources.
