ISLAMABAD: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $320 million loan to support the rehabilitation of roads in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

According to the ADB, it is said that the money will be spent on the rehabilitation of roads in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, connecting rural areas and increasing safety of people.

The ADB statement said that the loan proceeds will be used to upgrade 900 km of rural roads through the Rural Roads Development Project. The roads were damaged due to floods, these roads will help the population to access education, health and market.

“Road transport is both a lifeline to the people and a key component of socioeconomic development in Pakistan. This vital infrastructure project will reduce travel time, lower transportation costs, and increase access to economic opportunities for millions of residents in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,” said ADB Director General for Central and West Asia Yevgeniy Zhukov.

“By providing better access to markets and services, we are empowering local communities and driving inclusive economic growth in one of Pakistan’s most underserved regions,” Zhukov added.

Annual rainfall and temperature patterns have significantly increased in parts of the province, and the lack of resilient infrastructure escalated the impact of disasters on people and livelihoods. The flooding events since 2010 have substantially damaged the road network, hampering connectivity and escalating transportation costs.

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The project will offer technical and financial support to assist the government in preparing long-term targeted interventions that will enhance the climate resilience and sustainability of the province’s road network.