- Coastal Project Addresses Flood Risks, Ecosystem Restoration: Ministry
- The Punjab initiative promotes low-carbon, climate-smart agriculture.
- Millions to benefit resilience, productivity measures: ministry.
Pakistan and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Tuesday signed two major climate resilience initiatives aimed at strengthening coastal protection and promoting low-carbon agriculture.
According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Finance and Revenue, the agreements include the $180.5 million Sindh Coastal Resilience Sector Project (SCRP) and the $124 million Punjab Climate Resilient and Low Carbon Agriculture Mechanization Project.
Speaking at the signing ceremony in Islamabad, Finance Minister Muhammad Humair Karim appreciated ADB’s continued support and described it as a trusted development partner in Pakistan’s efforts to promote climate resilience, sustainable agriculture and inclusive growth.
He said the Sindh Coastal Resilience Project would promote integrated water resources and flood risk management, restore nature-based coastal defenses and strengthen institutional and local capacity for strategic planning.
The project will be financed through $140.5 million from ADB, including a $140 million loan and $0.5 million technical assistance grant, $40 million from the Green Climate Fund and $20 million in counterpart funding from the Sindh government. It is expected to directly benefit more than 3.8 million people in Thatta, Sujawal and Badin districts.
Karim said the Punjab Climate Resilient and Low Carbon Agriculture Mechanization Project would increase agricultural productivity and climate resilience in 30 districts of Punjab. The project, with a total outlay of $129 million, will be financed through a $120 million ADB loan, a $4 million ADB grant and $5 million in counterpart funding from the Government of Punjab.
Under the project, smallholder farmers will have improved access to climate-smart machinery, circular farming practices will be introduced to reduce crop residue burning, testing and training facilities will be established, and 15,000 women will be empowered through skills development and livelihood diversification.
The secretary said both initiatives were transformative, noting that the Sindh project would ensure livelihoods, food security and biodiversity along the province’s vulnerable coastal belt, while the Punjab project would drive sustainable, low-carbon agricultural growth and inclusive development.
ADB Country Director Emma Fan welcomed Pakistan’s commitment and highlighted the importance of the Sindh project in terms of addressing climate-induced risks and protecting coastal communities, and described the Punjab mechanization initiative as an important step towards modernizing agriculture and reducing emissions.
Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to ensure efficient use of funding and timely completion of the two projects.
