MANILA, Philippines: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has greenlit a $180 million loan to bolster water supply and solid waste management services in two rapidly expanding cities in Punjab province, Pakistan.
The “Developing Resilient Environments and Advancing Municipal Services in Punjab Project” is expected to benefit up to 1.5 million people, addressing issues like excessive groundwater extraction and urban environment degradation. The initiative focuses on expanding and modernizing urban water supply in Rawalpindi and enhancing solid waste management systems in Bahawalpur.
ADB Director General for Central and West Asia, Yevgeniy Zhukov, stated, “This project will make municipal services in these two cities more sustainable, resilient, and less carbon-intensive. By delivering reliable water supply and improving waste management, we anticipate significant improvements in the lives of people in Rawalpindi and Bahawalpur.”
In Rawalpindi, the project aims to construct new surface water intakes and a water treatment plant with a daily capacity of 54 million liters. It will install transmission and distribution pipes to provide metered connections to 82,000 households. Additionally, the financing will upgrade water pumps and transmission mains to augment surface water supply, along with establishing three pilot district metering areas to enhance operational efficiency.
For Bahawalpur, the project focuses on enhancing solid waste collection by procuring waste collection equipment and a new fleet to expand service coverage, supported by a new fleet management information system. The initiative will also construct a recycling facility and a floodproof landfill, with plans for the rehabilitation of the existing dump site. The financing includes provisions for personal protective equipment for informal sector workers.
ADB Urban Development Specialist Xijie Lu emphasized, “Apart from improving infrastructure services, ADB’s project will enhance the operational efficiency, inclusivity, and financial sustainability of Rawalpindi Water and Sanitation Agency and Bahawalpur Waste Management Company. The project also integrates innovative components, featuring renewable technologies, cost-recovery interventions, and behavioural change and communication elements.”
In addition to the loan, ADB will administer a $1 million technical assistance provided by the Republic of Korea e-Asia and Knowledge Partnership Fund. This assistance aims to strengthen the capacity of the Rawalpindi Water and Sanitation Agency to address leakages in the city’s water supply network.
ADB, committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, continues its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty. Established in 1966, ADB is owned by 68 members, with 49 from the region.
