Manila: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has allocated a $320 million loan for enhancing road safety and climate resilience in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a northern province of Pakistan. This financial support aims to refurbish approximately 900 kilometers of rural roads, ensuring reliable access to essential services and economic opportunities for rural communities.
According to Asian Development Bank, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Rural Roads Development Project seeks to rehabilitate roadways prone to flooding and in decrepit condition. By integrating climate-resilient designs and sustainable maintenance practices, the project addresses the challenges posed by increased annual rainfall and temperature variations, which have intensified the frequency and severity of natural disasters in the region.
ADB’s initiative is part of a broader commitment to bolster Pakistan’s infrastructure, reducing travel times, cutting transportation costs, and facilitating socioeconomic development in an underserved area. The plan includes conducting a comprehensive study on flood and landslide susceptibility to prioritize road repairs and improve the durability of the road network, particularly benefiting the province’s tourism and local economies.