The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government would launch a Rs 47.25 billion (US$175 million) World Bank funded development programme for the merged districts to upgrade infrastructure and improve public services through investments in water supply, sanitation, roads, agriculture and administrative facilities, according to official documents available on Thursday.
KP launches development programme for merged district worth Rs 47 bln
ISLAMABAD, Aug 06 (APP): The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government would launch a Rs 47.25 billion (US$175 million) World Bank funded development programme for the merged districts to upgrade infrastructure and improve public services through investments in water supply, sanitation, roads, agriculture and administrative facilities, according to official documents available on Thursday.
The programme, titled “Multisectoral Investments and Improved Service Delivery in Merged Areas,” was aimed to improve connectivity, boost economic activity and strengthen human development by prioritising underserved areas across the merged districts.
Under the project, safe drinking water schemes, sanitation systems and wastewater treatment facilities would be developed to improve access to essential public services.
The agriculture component would support irrigation infrastructure, value addition, processing, diversification, productivity enhancement, marketing and capacity building for farmers.
The initiative also included the construction, expansion and rehabilitation of district complexes and sub-divisional administrative offices, along with road links to improve coordination between local administrations and provincial departments.
All new public infrastructure would incorporate energy-efficient and environmentally sustainable designs, while project planning would emphasise greater citizen participation and inclusion.
The programme would also finance feasibility studies, engineering designs, surveys, environmental and social assessments, labour management plans, construction supervision and technical support required for project implementation.
Under the financing arrangement, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government would provide land for district complexes and bear the cost of technical and field staff assigned to the project.
The World Bank backed investment was expected to strengthen infrastructure, improve service delivery and accelerate socio-economic development across the merged districts.
