Zubair Qureshi Islamabad
As a part of the Team Europe Initiative ‘Building Back Better through Green Jobs Creation,’ combining support from the European Union (EU), Germany, France and Italy, the EU and the Agence Française de Development (AFD) signed on Wednesday an agreement to spearhead a new climate initiative in the urban centres of Punjab.
The joint effort by the Government of Pakistan and the Team Europe partners will allocate €179 million (US$ 193 million) to tackle urgent water and sanitation service delivery challenges in Faisalabad and Lahore, while strengthening climate resilience.
The collaborative initiative, entitled ‘Punjab Urban Water and Wastewater Governance and Services Improvement,’ spans over a period of six years and blends grant support from the EU and a soft loan from the AFD. The agreement has been signed by EU Ambassador Dr. Riina Kionka and Deputy Director AFD Eastern Europe, Middle East, and Asia, Ms. Julie Marsaudon, in the presence of German Ambassador Alfred Grannas and Italian Ambassador Andreas Ferrarese.
Acknowledging Punjab’s pivotal economic role in contributing 54pc of Pakistan’s total GDP, EU Ambassador Dr Riina Kionka highlighted persistent water and sanitation challenges. She underscored the EU’s commitment to supporting Pakistan in improving resilience to climate change and the EU’s readiness to redouble efforts to support the country’s green inclusive growth, a priority under the EU Pakistan Strategic Engagement Plan.
