Zubair Qureshi Islamabad
The federal government has geared up its efforts to implement Rs 110 billion (USD 400 million) post-flood rehabilitation and reconstruction package for Balochistan as the first formal Steering Committee meeting of Post-Flood 2022 Reconstruction and Rehabilitation project was held on Friday.
The meeting was co-chaired by the Federal Minister for Planning Development & Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal and Provincial Ministers for Finance and Planning on the behalf of Chief Minister Balochistan and attended by Secretary Ministry of Water Resources, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Planning, representatives from Economic Affairs Division, provincial representatives of Balcohistan and other stakeholders.
Minister for Planning, Ahsan Iqbal, highlighted that the socio-economic development of Balochistan had remained a top priority of the PDM Government since coming into power in April last year. The Minister noted that the efforts of the Government were disrupted by the devastating floods, which hit the poorest regions of the country hardest especially Balochistan.
In the wake of the devastating floods, the provincial Government lacked the financial resources to support post-floods rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts. The Federal Government obtained a loan from the World Bank and is spending this amount on post-flood rehabilitation and livelihood enhancement in Balochistan as a grant.
Minister for Planning and Minister for Finance from Government of Balochistan appreciated the efforts of the Federal Government for taking special interest in the development of Balochistan and for mobilizing loan for financing post-flood work in Balochistan. They emphasized the fiscal challenges faced by the provincial government and thanked the Federal Government for providing much-needed funds through this project. They assured full cooperation and support of the Government of Balochistan.
Member Social Sector & Devolution, Rafiullah Kakar, informed the participants that the ECNEC had recently approved the project and that the first phase of the project will be completed in two years.
Under the project, the rehabilitation and reconstruction of community infrastructure, establishment of Hydro-meteorological early warning system, reconstruction of damaged and partially damaged housing units will be financed.
