According to ADB documents, the proposed investment will finance eligible project preparation and design activities of ensuing urban development and mobility projects agreed in the country operation business plan 2021-2023 and indicative country pipeline and monitoring report 2022-2024 (planned) for Pakistan. The ensuing projects will assist the Government of Pakistan to improve the quality of life of urban residents in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province (KPK). It is anticipated that the ensuing projects will consist of 3 projects: (i) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Sustainable Urban Mobility Project 1, (ii) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Sustainable Urban Mobility Project 2, and (iii) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Cities Improvement Project 2.

The PRF will ensure high readiness of the ensuing projects in the urban sector in KPK, by delivering the following outputs:

Output 1: Due diligence and detailed engineering designs completed, and procurement activities supported. The PRF 2 will support the due diligence of ensuing projects by covering the following aspects: technical, economic, financial, environmental and social safeguards, gender, climate change assessments, institutional framework, private sector participation opportunities, and integrity. It will also support financial and procurement capacity assessments to identify risks and formulate mitigating measures. Due diligence will include the review, validation, or upgrading of preexisting and ongoing studies and due diligence. The PRF 2 will support the preparation of detailed engineering designs for civil works and goods. This includes support for surveys, studies, geological and hydrological investigations, and other technical assessments necessary for detailed engineering designs. Climate and natural disaster resilience measures and innovations will be integrated into the designs. The PRF 2 will support procurement, including preparation of bidding documents, in line with the ADB Procurement Policy (2017, as amended from time to time) and Procurement Regulations for ADB Borrowers (2017, as amended from time to time).

Output 2: Project readiness financing implementation support provided and capacity of executing and implementing agencies improved. The PRF 2 will finance consulting services to (i) support the executing and implementing agencies in implementing the project; and (ii) strengthen their capacities to sustainably operate the planned investments. Support to implementing agencies will include the following aspects: technical, project management, financial management, procurement, gender, environmental and social safeguards. The PRF 2 will also conduct capacity development needs assessments and formulate capacity development programs for implementing agencies and government officials.

PROJECT RATIONALE AND LINKAGE TO COUNTRY/REGIONAL STRATEGY

KPCIP PRF 2 will support the government's efforts to improve the quality of life of urban residents in KPK, by building on the lessons learnt from the long-term engagement of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in this region of the country. The Peshawar Sustainable Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Corridor Project that was started in 2017 and commissioned in August 2020, initiated the transformation of KPK cities through sustainable urban mobility initiatives. The first KPCIP PRF approved in 2019 focuses on institutional reforms, municipal services and green growth covering five selected cities and supports the ensuing KPCIP planned for Board approval in 2021. Building on these projects, the government has proposed to continue this systematic approach to planning, higher quality of project readiness, and institutional reforms for sustainable project operations. The PRF 2 will build on success of the first PRF by financing the preparation and detailed designs of series of sustainable urban mobility, municipal services and climate resilience projects in KPK, benefiting an additional 4 million people across multiple cities. All subprojects will be tailored to city-specific features and urban environments.

ACCESS TO INFORMATION

You can submit an information request for project information at: https://www.adb.org/forms/request-information-form

ADB has a two-stage appeals process for requesters who believe that ADB has denied their request for information in violation of its Access to Information Policy. You can learn more about filing an appeal at: https://www.adb.org/site/disclosure/appeals

ACCOUNTABILITY MECHANISM OF ADB

The Accountability Mechanism is an independent complaint mechanism and fact-finding body for people who believe they are likely to be, or have been, adversely affected by an Asian Development Bank-financed project. If you submit a complaint to the Accountability Mechanism, they may investigate to assess whether the Asian Development Bank is following its own policies and procedures for preventing harm to people or the environment. You can learn more about the Accountability Mechanism and how to file a complaint at: http://www.adb.org/site/accountability-mechanism/main.