According to ADB, the project readiness financing (PRF) from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) will prepare the Naulong Integrated Water Resources Development Project. The project supports the Government of Pakistan's Vision 2025 and ADBs country partnership strategy for Pakistan, 2021 to 2025, which emphasizes the need for water, energy, and food security. It aligns with ADBs Strategy 2030 in addressing poverty and inequalities, gender equality, climate change, and rural development and food security. The project also aligns with Pakistan's Nationally Determined Contribution. Pakistan has committed to mitigating climate vulnerability and reducing its annual greenhouse gas emissions in 2030 by 20%. The PRF is included in ADBs indicative country operations business plan for Pakistan, 2021 to 2023. The national government approved the Planning Commission Proforma-I for the proposed PRF and the ensuing project in January 2022.

The PRF will ensure high-quality design, stakeholder engagement, and safeguards and procurement readiness and procurement support of the ensuing project. It will facilitate the timely and cost-effective achievement of the projects outcomes. The PRF builds on the project planning documents, including the feasibility study and associated studies commissioned by the Water and Power Development Authority. The PRF will validate the project design and update social and environmental safeguards documents and other due diligence assessments.

The project is in the Jhal Magsi District of the Balochistan province. The province's population represents 6% of the country's population and contributes up to 4.5% percent of the national GDP. Agriculture is central to Balochistan's economy and about 72 percent of the population lives in rural areas and depends mainly on agriculture. The agriculture sector accounts for about one-third of the provincial gross domestic product, employs two-thirds of its labor force and provides livelihood to half of its population. About 70 percent of farmers in Balochistan do not have access to regular sources of water. Variability in water availability in Balochistan is far higher than the national average, and per capita, water storage is only 20 percent of the national average which itself is already grossly inadequate in comparison to other countries in the region. Extended droughts and destructive flash floods are common and are likely to worsen with future climate change projections. The people most vulnerable to water scarcity in Balochistan are the rural poor, especially women and children.

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.