ADB Provides $107 Million for Water Management in Balochistan
Published on by Water Network Research, Official research team of The Water Network in Non Profit
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the provincial government of Balochistan signed on Saturday the project agreement of a $107 million loan and grants to improve irrigation infrastructure and water resource management in Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest yet economically poor province .
Representative Image Source: Pixabay, labeled for reuse
Chief Minister of Balochistan, Jam Kamal Khan, witnessed signing of the project agreement by Additional Chief Secretary for Development, Sajjad Ahmed Bhutta and ADB Country Director for Pakistan Ms. Xiaohong Yang in Quetta, said a statement issued here.
“Agriculture remains the backbone of Balochistan’s economy,” said Ms. Yang. “This project will introduce efficient water usage systems and practices to help farmers improve productivity and farm incomes.
"Agriculture accounts for almost two-thirds of Balochistan’s economic output and employs 60% of the province’s 13 million population, but frequent drought and poor water management has put the industry, and those who rely on it, at risk.
Poverty rates in the province almost double the national average.
The Balochistan Water Resources Development Sector Project will focus on improving irrigation infrastructure and water resource management in the Zhob and Mula river basins.
The two rivers irrigate vast areas of farm land in Balochistan.
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- Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM)