ADB Approves $180 Million Loan to Improve Water Supply and Waste Management in Two Pakistani Cities

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $180 million loan to improve water supply and solid waste management services in two rapidly growing cities in Pakistan’s Punjab province. The project will help make municipal services in these two cities more sustainable, resilient, and less carbon-intensive.

Key Points of the Project:

• The $180 million loan will be used to improve water supply and solid waste management services in Rawalpindi and Bahawalpur.
• The project will help curtail excessive groundwater extraction and urban environment degradation.
• The project will also help enhance the operational efficiency, inclusivity, and financial sustainability of Rawalpindi Water and Sanitation Agency and Bahawalpur Waste Management Company.

Details of the Project:

• In Rawalpindi, the project will help build new surface water intakes and a water treatment plant with a capacity of 54 million liters a day.
• It will lay transmission and distribution pipes to serve 82,000 households with metered connections.
• The financing will also upgrade water pumps and transmission mains to augment surface water supply and establish three pilot district metering areas to enhance operational efficiency.
• In Bahawalpur, solid waste collection will be improved through the procurement of waste collection equipment and a new fleet to expand service coverage.
• The project will construct a facility for recycling as well as a floodproof landfill while the existing dump site will be rehabilitated.

Additional Information:

• The project is expected to significantly improve the lives of people in Rawalpindi and Bahawalpur.
• ADB will also administer a $1 million technical assistance provided by the Republic of Korea e-Asia and Knowledge Partnership Fund.
• ADB is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific.

The ADB’s approval of this loan is a significant step towards improving the lives of people in Rawalpindi and Bahawalpur. The project will help to improve water supply and solid waste management services, which are essential for public health and environmental sustainability.