The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $320 million loan to enhance road rehabilitation efforts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, aiming to improve safe and all-weather connectivity in rural areas.
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Rural Roads Development Project will upgrade approximately 900 kilometers of rural roads that are vulnerable to flooding and currently in poor condition, as stated in an ADB press release received on Friday.
The project will focus on key routes connecting remote communities to education, healthcare, and markets, incorporating climate-resilient design, road safety improvements, and sustainable maintenance practices.
“Road transport is crucial for people’s livelihoods and socioeconomic development in Pakistan. This important infrastructure project will reduce travel time, cut transportation costs, and enhance access to economic opportunities for millions in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,” said ADB Director General for Central and West Asia, Yevgeniy Zhukov.
“By improving access to markets and services, we are empowering local communities and fostering inclusive economic growth in one of Pakistan’s most underserved regions,” Zhukov added.
The province has experienced increased rainfall and temperature patterns, which have intensified the impact of disasters due to the lack of resilient infrastructure. Flooding since 2010 has significantly damaged the road network, affecting connectivity and raising transportation costs.
The project will provide technical and financial support to help the government prepare targeted interventions aimed at enhancing the climate resilience and sustainability of the road network.
“ADB will assist the government in conducting a comprehensive study on flood and landslide susceptibility to identify priority roads,” said ADB Senior Transport Specialist Seunghyun Kim.
“We will also support the government in developing concessional contracts for the operation and maintenance of two tourism roads, which will contribute to the road network’s sustainability,” Kim added.
It is noteworthy that Pakistan was a founding member of ADB. Since 1966, ADB has committed over $52 billion in public and private sector loans, grants, and other financing forms to support inclusive economic growth in Pakistan and enhance its infrastructure, energy, food security, transport networks, and social services.
