The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved three projects totaling $381 million to advance agriculture, education, and health services in Pakistan province of Punjab.
These development projects aim to foster economic growth in the province, which accounts for more than half of the country’s population and economic activity.
ADB Country Director for Pakistan Emma Fan said “Investing in education, health, and agricultural mechanization will play a transformative role in driving the growth of Punjab, a vital pillar of Pakistan’s economy.”
Emma Fan said “These strategic investments will modernize agriculture, enhance human capital, and significantly improve livelihoods for millions of people across Punjab.”
A $120 million concessional loan and $4 million grant have been allocated for the Punjab Climate-Resilient and Low-Carbon Agriculture Mechanization Project to accelerate the province’s transition to modern, disaster-resilient, and low-carbon agriculture practices, benefiting 220,000 rural farm households.
The project will help mechanize farming and provide alternative livelihoods for agricultural workers including through boosting the knowledge and skills of 15,000 women. It will introduce a new financing model for farm mechanization service providers to equip small-scale farmers with advanced machinery.
ADB has also approved $107 million for the Responsive, Ready, and Resilient Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Secondary Education in Punjab Program. This includes a $7 million grant from ADB’s Asian Development Fund and a $100 million loan from ADB’s ordinary concessional capital resources.
The results-based program aims to modernize secondary education by enhancing inclusive Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education across Punjab. The project, implemented by the Punjab School Education Department, will improve access to quality education for students across the province.
