ADB Review: News from the ADB Pakistan Resident Mission

Pakistan Resident Mission January 2020

New ADB President Masatsugu Asakawa Assumes Office "I am honored to assume the role of ADB in Fukuoka, Japan. Furthermore, in the President and to begin working in close immediate aftermath of the Global Financial cooperation with our 68 members. ADB has Crisis, he took part in the rst G20 Leaders’ been a trusted partner of the region for more Summit Meeting in his capacity as Executive than half a century, supporting strong growth that Assistant to the then Prime Minister Taro Aso. has improved the lives of people across Asia and Mr. Asakawa has had frequent engagement with the Pacic. I will strive to ensure ADB remains the Organisation for Economic Co-operation the preferred choice of its clients and partners," and Development, including as Chair of the Mr. Asakawa said. Committee on Fiscal Affairs from 2011 to 2016. Mr. Asakawa succeeds Mr. Takehiko Mr. Asakawa’s extensive international Nakao, who stepped down on 16 January 2020. experience includes service as Chief Advisor to In a career spanning close to four decades, ADB President Mr. Kimimasa Tarumizu between Mr. Asakawa has held a range of senior positions 1989 and 1992, during which he spearheaded at the Ministry of Finance of Japan, including Vice the creation of a new ofce in ADB focused on Minister of Finance for International Affairs, and strategic planning. gained diverse professional experience in Mr. Asakawa served as a Visiting Professor development policy, foreign exchange markets, at the University of Tokyo from 2012 to 2015 Masatsugu Asakawa assumes ofce as the and international tax policy. and at Saitama University from 2006 to 2009. 10th President of the Asian Development Bank He served as Finance Deputy for the 2019 He obtained his Bachelor of Arts from the (ADB) on 17 January 2019. G20 Osaka Summit and the G20 Finance University of Tokyo in 1981 and MPA from Ministers and Central Bank Governors meeting Princeton University in 1985. Year in Review: ADB Disbursed Record $2.4 Billion Development Assistance to Pakistan in 2019 n 2019, ADB's loan and grant disbursements Alleviation Strategy aimed at reducing inequality Pakhtunkwa and the Water Resources Project in to Pakistan amounted to $2.4 billion, and investing in economically disadvantaged Punjab. Icomprising $1.8 billion in program lending people. In agriculture, ADB approved a major and $634.3 million in project lending. ADB approved a $235 million loan to Sindh change in scope of Trimmu and Panjnad barrages in 2019 to help develop a bus rapid transit (BRT) adding Islam barrage by utilizing surplus loan ADB-Supported Programs and Projects system with innovative energy and climate proceeds of $21 million, and initiated work on ADB provided $1.8 billion in policy-based resilience features in Karachi, Pakistan's largest $275 million Jalalpur Irrigation Project. ADB loans, including $1billion in immediate budget and most populated city. ADB also approved a approved a grant of $5.1 million for enhancing support to shore up the country's public nances $75 million project to Enhance Secondary Punjab technology based agriculture and and $500 million to improve trade Education in Sindh. marketing, market development and preparing competitiveness. ADB also provided additional To help strengthen project readiness prior Kurram Tangi Integrated Water Resources nancing of $200 million to help support the to approval, ADB approved project readiness Development Project. Benazir Income Support Program (BISP) — part nancing totaling $17.3 million in 2019 for the In the energy sector, ADB maintained its of the government's agship Ehsas Poverty Cities Improvement Project in Khyber strong presence with an ongoing portfolio of (continued on page 2)

How Women-led Green Enterprises in Vice-President Shixin Chen Reafrms ADB's Strong Commitment to Pakistan's Pakistan Helped Rebuild Climate- Development-ADB Director General for Central West Asia calls on the Prime Minister-CAREC Regulators Forum 2019-Balochistan Water Sector Resilient Roads Development Project-Karachi Breeze Red Line-Accelerating Urban Project Women nursery owners in northern districts near with New Financing Instrument-ADB provides $75 Million to Road in KPK-ADB Islamabad grew millions of plants to protect roads and Supports Pakistan's FATF Plan-ADB, Kashf Foundation Partner to Expand prevent future landslides, in the process creating jobs Women Access to Credit-Pakistan Opens Key Motorway 4 Section-ADB Project and nancial independence for women in the villages. to Enhance Secondary Education in Sindh. PAKISTAN NEWS PAKISTAN NEWS

Continued from page 1 $2.2 billion covering energy generation, section). The ADB-administered M4 project Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and transmission, distribution, energy efciency, was conanced with AIIB, alongside grant Agence Française de Développement — to Vice-President Shixin Chen Reaffirms ADB's Strong Commitment to renewable energy development, and analytical conancing from DFID. This was AIIB’s rst ever build a 26.6-km state-of-the-art BRT system in tools and advisory assistance. project. Karachi. Pakistan's Development In 2019, ADB committed a $300 million The Pakistan National Transport Policy and Nonsovereign Operations DB Vice-President Shixin Chen met with policy-based loan that will help Pakistan to Maser Plan supported by ADB and DFID was Commitments in nonsovereign operations the Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran address nancial sustainability, governance, and ofcially launched following its approval by the funded by ordinary capital resources for the AKhan during his rst ofcial visit to the energy infrastructure policy constraints. federal cabinet in 2018, and Road Safety and period 2007 to 2019 totaled $767 million, with country on 29–30 August, during which he ADB's ongoing portfolio in the transport Road Asset Management secretariats promoted $15 million committed in 2019. A $15 million reafrmed ADB’s support for Pakistan’s sector totals $2.5 billion and spans urban development priorities. corridors, border crossing points, greeneld During his 2-day visit to Pakistan, VP Chen motorways and expressways, and existing also met with the Adviser to the Prime Minister national and provincial highways. In 2019, ADB ADB also provided an additional financing of $200 on Finance and Revenue Abdul Hafeez Shaikh; committed a $75 million loan to widen and million loan to help support the Benazir Income Support Minister for Economic Affairs Muhammad u p g r a d e 4 2 k i l o m e t e r s o f t h e b u s y Program (BISP) — part of the government's flagship Poverty Hammad Azhar; Chairperson of the Benazir Mardan–Swabi road in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Alleviation Program 'Ehsaas' which aims to reduce inequality Income Support Program Sania Nishtar; province. Minister for Energy Omar Ayub Khan; and other ADB successfully completed the Flood and invest in economically disadvantaged people. senior government ofcials. Emergency Reconstruction and Resilience

“ADB has an enduring development PID Project, under which 1,740 km of provincial partnership with Pakistan. Over the last ve ADB Vice-President VP Shixin Chen (second from right) and the Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan (right) during highways and districts roads were rehabilitated decades, Pakistan and ADB have worked their meeting. and repaired in 20 ood affected districts of under the National Transport Policy were loan to Kashf Foundation was signed in August together to develop the country’s key Punjab. Another 204 km of major roads were established. for the Expanding Access to Credit for Women infrastructure, promote exports and private aimed at developing the country’s social Abdal–Havelian Expressway (E-35) constructed rehabilitated, and 75 km of district roads were ADB secured nancing of $49 million ($37 Project. The funding will support Kashf sector efciency, reform public sector protection, urban services, energy security, with the support of ADB and the Department repaired in the three districts. About 800 million loan and $12 million grant) from the Foundation’s lending to low-income women, management, develop the country’s nancial transport, agriculture and water resources, for International Development (DFID) of the Green Climate Fund-supplementing a proposed female micro- and small entrepreneurs and low- market, improve urban services, provide education, trade, and tourism. This will help spur United Kingdom, Pehur Irrigation Project, and a cost schools in Pakistan. emergency assistance, and prioritize social inclusive and sustainable economic growth,”VP facilitation center of the Benazir Income Support ADB’s Trade Finance Program (TFP) lls sector.” said VP Chen. “ADB is committed to Chen said. Program, and met with beneciaries. market gaps by providing guarantees and loans support the government’s reform agenda to During the visit, VP Chen visited the Hasan In 2019, ADB committed a $300 million policy-based through partner banks in support of trade. In promote inclusive and sustainable economic loan that will help Pakistan to address financial Pakistan, the TFP works with 13 banks and has growth, develop key infrastructure, strengthen supported $16.03 billion in trade and 5,159 regional cooperation, attract investments, and ADB is committed to support the government's reform sustainability, governance, and energy infrastructure policy transactions as of November 2019 - 52.9% of constraints. promote industry and the private sector.” agenda to promote inclusive and sustainable economic the $16.03 billion was conanced by the private “ADB plans to provide Pakistan about $7 sector. The Supply Chain Finance Program has billion in fresh assistance for various growth, develop key infrastructure, strengthen regional supported $0.88 million in trade over 5 development projects and policy-based cooperation, attract investments, and promote industry and transactions as of November in Pakistan and hectares of landslide area was stabilized in the loan of $435 million; $235 million was from programs during the next three years under its the private sector. mobilized $0.44 million in conancing. three northern districts using bio-engineering ADB and $100 million each from the Asian country operations business plan 2020–2022, measures. The project also rehabilitated 90% of the ood protection infrastructure. Two new ood protection bunds are built along both ADB Director General called on the Prime Minister of Pakistan banks of the river Jhelum with a cumulative length of about 7,300 meters. The project also DB Director General for Central and developed the safety inspection manuals for West Asia, Mr. Werner E. Liepach, on 11 dams and ood protection infrastructure. ADecember 2019 in Islamabad, met with ADB is also actively supporting Public- the Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan. The Private Partnership initiatives of the provinces Prime Minister appreciated ADB's ongoing and the Federal Government to support the support to Pakistan in the social protection, delivery of public infrastructure with private agriculture, infrastructure development and sector participation, along with development of effective scal risk management functions. nancial sectors. DG Liepach, joined by ADB's Country Director for Pakistan Xiaohong Yang, Partnerships and Conancing briefed the Prime Minister about ADB's policy- ADB is implementing two loans of $100 based assistance geared towards economic million each for the provinces of Sindh and stabilization and reforms in key sectors. Punjab, with a conancing grant from DFID, During the two-day visit, DG Liepach met Government of the UK. The projects are with Adviser to the Prime Minister on Finance PID supporting PPPs in the provinces by augmenting and Revenue Dr. Abdul Hafeez Shaikh; Minister DG Werner Liepach, joined by ADB's Country Director for Pakistan Xiaohong Yang, apprising the Prime Minister the resources for Project Development Facility about ADB's policy-based assistance geared towards economic stabilization and reforms in key sectors and Viability Gap Funding to structure and for Economic Affairs Muhammad Hammad Azhar; Chairperson of the Benazir Income develop more viable PPP projects that offer ADB other senior government ofcials to discuss DG Liepach also attended a CPS consultations in value-for-money. Minister for Economic Affairs, Hammad Azhar, witnessed signing of the assistance for economic recovery and Support Program Sania Nishtar; Minister for ADB's policy based assistance, country Karachi on 10 December, and met ADB staff In 2019, ADB helped complete the125 energy sector reforms by ADB Country Director Xiaohong Yang and Secretary EAD Syed Pervaiz Abbas on 9 Energy Omar Ayub Khan; Minister for Planning, partnership strategy (CPS), public and private during the visit. kilometers Motorway M4 (Gojra-Khanewal December 2019 in Islamabad. Development, and Reforms Asad Umar; and sector nancing incl for SMEs, tourism, and IT. January 2020 January 2020 PAKISTAN NEWS PAKISTAN NEWS

CAREC Capital Market Regulators Forum: CAREC Ministers Endorse Regional Strategies for Vice-President Shixin Chen Affirms ADB's Support to Improve Capital Markets in CAREC Countries Transport and Energy Development apital market regulators from countries The CAREC Program is a partnership of 11 Uzbekistan—to promote economic growth and inisters from the 11 member countries be able to create new regional governance uneven distribution of energy across the region. of the Central Asia Regional Economic countries—Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, the development through regional cooperation, and of the Central Asia Regional Economic systems to manage transmission systems Creating a stable power supply also enables CCooperation (CAREC) Program met People’s Republic of China, Georgia, supported by development partners. ADB hosts MCooperation (CAREC) Program have centrally. Elevating the grid and pipeline planning export to energy markets, such as the People's for the rst time in Islamabad to discuss ways to Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Mongolia, the CAREC Secretariat in its headquarters in endorsed a new strategy designed to improve from the national to regional level will lead to a Republic of China, Pakistan, and India, along with multimodal transport infrastructure and improve capital markets by enhancing access to Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Manila. larger and more integrated energy market new strategic transit opportunities for oil and gas nance, supporting private sector development, operations in the region, resulting in greater social equipped to cover seasonal variability and through Turkey and Georgia. spurring economic activities, and strengthening and economic development in the next decade. regional cooperation and integration. The CAREC Transport Strategy 2030, Jointly organized by the Securities and which was signed on14 November at the 18th Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP), ADB, CAREC Ministerial Conference in Uzbekistan, the Central Depository of Pakistan, and the addresses these challenges by promoting National Clearing Company of Pakistan Limited, international good practice in developing regional the CAREC First Capital Market Regulators and national transport policies, developing and Forum held from 29 to 30 in August attracted high-level ofcials, including Pakistan’s Adviser on maintaining multimodal transport infrastructure, Finance Dr. Abdul Hafeez Shaikh; SECP and improving cross-border transport Chairman Aamir Ali Khan; ADB Vice-President operations. It will also target other procedural Shixin Chen; and more than 150 regulators from and infrastructure bottlenecks that cause delays the CAREC region. and added costs along the CAREC economic corridors. The CAREC Energy Strategy 2030 outlines a set of initiatives and policy recommendations to be implemented over the next decade based on regional cooperation, energy market reforms, ADB and green technology was also endorsed on the ADB Vice President Shixin Chen (left), Pakistan’s Advisor to the Prime Minister on Finance and Revenue Dr. Abdul Hafeez Shaikh (center), and SECP chairman Aamir Ali Khan addressing a panel session occasion. By working together, CAREC members will ADB Kacific1 Satellite Launch to Bring Affordable Internet to The first CAREC Capital Market Regulators Forum in Remote Parts of Asia and Pacific Islamabad, Pakistan discussed access to finance reforms and acic Broadband Satellites International Kacic1, launched by SpaceX's Falcon 9 Access to broadband internet can accelerate private sector development through strengthened regional Limited (Kacic) has launched the Kacic1 rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida, on 17 progress towards realizing the Sustainable cooperation and integration of capital markets. satellite to expand high-speed broadband December 2019, will orbit in the same location Development Goals. It also helps ADB to meet The nancial sector in most CAREC K internet access across Asia and the Pacic. ADB above Asia and the Pacic region during its operational priorities such as human countries remains dominated by traditional provided $50 million in nancing to Kacic for the estimated 15-year service life. The satellite will development and social inclusion, improved nancial institutions such as banks. Development satellite to deliver internet that will enable better be able to deliver the most powerful signal ever education, better health access, gender equality of capital markets in the region is lagging, with education and health services, improve access to achieved by a commercial satellite in the region, and food security. This project can assist in some CAREC members ranked low in market information, and drive more trade and providing affordable broadband access to people climate adaptation and disaster resilience as well capitalization, according to the 2018 Global connectivity between countries. in remote regions, many of whom have never as climate-smart agricultural practices. Competitiveness Report. Improved capital had internet connectivity before. markets can unlock much-needed resources to boost economic growth and help achieve sustainable development, while strengthening regional cooperation that promotes more effective and efcient cross-border trade and investments. The forum included panel sessions and open discussions covering country case studies, as well as specic topics such as lessons from capital market integration, derivative market development, and ntech regulation. Representatives from ministries of nance, central banks, capital market supervisory bodies from all CAREC countries, and relevant industry ADB professionals participated as panelists in the Pakistan Adviser to the Prime Minster on Finance and Revenue Dr. Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, ADB Vice-President Shixin Chen, and Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan Aamir Ali Khan with the CIFIC various sessions to share and discuss best KA international practices with the participants. delegates of the rst CAREC Capital Market Regulators Forum in Islamabad.

January 2020 January 2020 REGIONAL COOPERATION REGIONAL COOPERATION

January 2020 January 2020 IMPACT STORY IMPACT STORY

owned nurseries were then procured for slope demand, i expanded my nursery from 30 to 70 stabilization along the hilly roads. kanals, it has brought lots of prot” “with the savings, “We observed that engineering was not we have purchased land, other necessities of sufcient to reduce any ood or disaster risk. Hence, households. I am educating my sisters and have we introduced the latest techniques of bioengineering opened a school nearby” with assistance of the forest department by planting The project also encouraged participation of plants and shrubs in the landslide areas” Mian Shaukat women in protecting the new seedlings. The Forest Sha, Senior Project Implementation Ofcer, ADB Department employed large numbers of wardens to Pakistan recalls. look after the treated landslides and plants. Out of 107 “We insured involvement of women in a sort of wardens recruited by the project, 23 were women. social engineering in the form of nurseries to create Out of total 2.519 million procured plants by economic activity and jobs” the project, 1.76 million (70%) were procured from The plantations have provided smart solution to women nursery owners which were used in the protect the roads against frequent landslides. The protection of roads using soil bio-engineering to nurseries are creating jobs and resulting in nancial prevent future landslides. In the process, the local independence of women in the villages. women earned over 23.275 million rupees. “We are helping other female nursery owners by giving them tubes and plants. All of us, women, sit

Blossoming women empowerment together regularly. We discuss education and other ADB issues. Now I am able to take decisions. Earlier no Saira Ilyas says “because of the project the forest my father and husband, they listen and support!” says Flood Reconstruction and Resilience Project one used to take us seriously. Now whatever I say to department needed more plants, and to meet the a beaming Saira Ilyas.

How Women-led Green We are helping other female nursery owners by giving them tubes and plants. All of us, women, sit together regularly. We discuss education and other issues. Now I am able to take decisions. Earlier no one used to take us seriously. Now whatever I say to my father and husband, Enterprises Helped Rebuild they listen and support!” says a beaming Saira Ilyas. Climate-Resilient Roads

e were badly affected by the ood in 2014, “We were in a very difcult situation. Our homes since helped rebuild damaged infrastructure to not just us but the entire community,” says were damaged, roads were cut off, nowhere to go, we disaster-resilient standards. WSaira Ilyas, nursery owner in Hajira village faced starvation for three days” Jamila Bibi, Saira's “Due to the destruction of the road network, the in Poonch district near Islamabad. neighbor added. transportation cost had risen very high, hence it was a critical time and restoration of roads was mandatory to rehabilitate the community” says Muhammad Bashir, Challenges of post-ood recovery Director General of the Project Coordination Unit. Pakistan remain a disaster-prone country with “ The end to end development and frequent oods and other disasters caused by climate reconstruction of seven arterial and 15 major inter- change disrupting lives. The 2014 oods affected district roads were part of the project. This included thousands of villages, and displaced over 2.5 million 207 kilometers of reconstruction” across the country. The mountainous Poonch, Kotli and Haveli districts near Islamabad suffered substantial damage to Responding with innovative resilience roads, livelihoods and basic services. An innovative women-led plantation initiative ADB on the request of the Government of responded to the challenge of rebuilding roads. Pakistan approved an emergency assistance to rebuild The project, in coordination with the local forest roads, bridges and other key infrastructure. The Flood and civil works departments, encouraged women to Reconstruction and Resilience Project (FERRP) has raise nurseries. The plants raised in these women ADB ADB January 2020 January 2020 IMPACT STORY IMPACT STORY

ADB Women nursery owners in northern districts near Islamabad grew millions of plants to protect roads and prevent future landslides, in the process creating jobs and financial independence for women in the villages. e were badly affected by the ood in 2014, “We were in a very difcult situation. Our homes since helped rebuild damaged infrastructure to not just us but the entire community,” says were damaged, roads were cut off, nowhere to go, we disaster-resilient standards. WSaira Ilyas, nursery owner in Hajira village faced starvation for three days” Jamila Bibi, Saira's “Due to the destruction of the road network, the in Poonch district near Islamabad. neighbor added. transportation cost had risen very high, hence it was a critical time and restoration of roads was mandatory to rehabilitate the community” says Muhammad Bashir, Challenges of post-ood recovery Director General of the Project Coordination Unit. Pakistan remain a disaster-prone country with “ The end to end development and frequent oods and other disasters caused by climate reconstruction of seven arterial and 15 major inter- change disrupting lives. The 2014 oods affected district roads were part of the project. This included thousands of villages, and displaced over 2.5 million 207 kilometers of reconstruction” across the country. The mountainous Poonch, Kotli and Haveli districts near Islamabad suffered substantial damage to Responding with innovative resilience roads, livelihoods and basic services. An innovative women-led plantation initiative ADB on the request of the Government of responded to the challenge of rebuilding roads. Pakistan approved an emergency assistance to rebuild The project, in coordination with the local forest roads, bridges and other key infrastructure. The Flood and civil works departments, encouraged women to Reconstruction and Resilience Project (FERRP) has raise nurseries. The plants raised in these women ADB ADB January 2020 January 2020 FORUM FORUM

I congratulate ADB, Karandaaz and ABDI for organizing this event and bringing together experts and specialists in the finance, infrastructure and SME space. I am confident that the event will not only help us learn about some of the most pertinent examples from across the region, but will also promote cross-industry collaboration to help achieve our

AZ national development goals Mr. Hammad Azhar, Minister for Economic Affairs KARAAND

ADB recognizes the importance of a vibrant Public Private Partnership (PPP) and innovative financing needs of the SME sector. We are currently supporting three PPP initiatives in Punjab and Sindh provinces in partnership with Pakistan Innovative Finance Forum the DFID. Private sector participation is vital to bridge the infrastructure investment gaps. KARAANDAZ AZ The first Pakistan Innovative Finance Forum was held in Islamabad in November 2019 to share knowledge and pool Ingrid Van Wees, ADB Vice President for Finance and Risk innovative ideas promoting private sector-driven infrastructure financing, and identify ways to enhance financing access for Management SMEs. United Kingdom's DFID funded Karandaaz Pakistan, in partnership with the ADB Institute (ADBI), and ADB, KARAAND organized the forum to strategize increased public- and private-sector dialogue on infrastructure and SME finance, creation of innovative financing solutions, and global best practices. The forum explored innovative ways of leveraging private funds for investment in infrastructure and SMEs, discussed case studies of credit enhancement structures for infrastructure projects and financing for SMEs, and public-private partnership development within the sectors. “Spillover” tax revenue, linked to the development effects of infrastructure growth, could be used by governments of developing economies, such as Pakistan, to The government has restored macroeconomic stability. raise rates of return needed to encourage private investment The current account surplus, a booming stock market, and in new projects. stable reserves and exchange rate, are clear signs of recovery. We have created a platform on which to build and SMEs should be an engine of growth for developing transform our economy, investment and business climate in economies. A credible and accessible credit database of SMEs the years ahead. would go a long way in enabling financial institutions to

AZ properly assess risk and lend more to SMEs. AZ Dr. Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, Advisor to the Prime Minister on Finance and Mr. Naoyuki Yoshino, Dean ADBI Revenue KARAAND KARAAND

We must continue to explore innovative financing structures and instruments to meet country's growing infrastructure development needs. I look forward to a ADB's private sector operations work closely with our follow-up of the forum and sit down to break down and strong public sector portfolio. We are sharpening our focus discuss action points where I can help on financing innovative and high-tech projects, women entrepreneurs, agriculture value chain, and SMEs, to boost Mr. Asad Umar, Minister for Planning, Development and Special business and job opportunities

Initiatives AZ AZ Ms. Xiaohong Yang, Country Director, ADB Pakistan KARAAND KARAAND January 2020 January 2020 FORUM FORUM

AZ national development goals Mr. Hammad Azhar, Minister for Economic Affairs KARAAND

AZ properly assess risk and lend more to SMEs. AZ Dr. Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, Advisor to the Prime Minister on Finance and Mr. Naoyuki Yoshino, Dean ADBI Revenue KARAAND KARAAND

Initiatives AZ AZ Ms. Xiaohong Yang, Country Director, ADB Pakistan KARAAND KARAAND January 2020 January 2020 FORUM PAKISTAN NEWS ADB, Kashf Foundation Partner to Expand Women's Access to Credit in Pakistan

DB provided a $25 million syndicated loan to support the lending operations of Kashf AFoundation, one of Pakistan's leading micronance service providers to low-income households and women-led micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). The loan approved in August will help expand women's access to nance in Pakistan and empower them economically. Access to nance is very limited in Pakistan, with only 21.3% of adults and 7% of women over the age of 15 having a bank account in scal year 2017. This situation is particularly acute for MSMEs and individual borrowers, especially women-run microenterprises, as these entities receive only about 7% of total bank credit to the private sector despite contributing around 40% to gross domestic product. MSMEs account for about 98% of all enterprises in Pakistan, employing more than 80% of the nonagricultural labor force. ADB's assistance comprises an A loan (to be funded by ADB) of up to $15 million and a B loan of KARAANDAZ $10 million that will be funded by commercial conancers including international impact investors.

ADB Country Director Xiaohong Yang exchanging pleasantries with H. E. Queen Maxima of the Netherland. The ADB United Nation's Secretary General's Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance presided over the signing ceremony The assistance will expand Kashf Foundation's lending operations and market base, giving more women and project will support Kashf Foundation's other goals syndication of this transaction has allowed ADB to for Pakistan Micro Payment Gateway, an inclusive digital funds transfer initiative by the State Bank of Pakistan women-led MSMEs access to much-needed long- including narrowing the nancing gap in the private mobilize valuable investment from international impact and Karaandaz. term nancing to further develop their livelihoods and education sector and improving the quality of investors into Pakistan's micronance sector. incomes. Apart from microenterprise lending, the education at schools it supports. The successful

Infrastructure and SME development lie at the nexus of economic growth, productive investment, job creation, and Accelerating Urban Projects with New poverty reduction. To enable these sectors to grow, access to financing is vital but it can be only leveraged provided the Financing Instrument regulatory and institutional frameworks are supportive of Directors to help deliver projects in a faster and more nurturing a strong eco-system. responsive manner. The PRF features simplied documentation and supports project preparation and AZ Dr Shamshad Akhtar, Chairperson Karandaaz Pakistan, and Former engineering design activities that help ensure that Governor State Bank of Pakistan projects are “shovel ready,” reducing both overall time and cost to borrowers. KARAAND The PRF will support the preparation for the rst two phases of the proposed Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Pakistan's SMEs faces low access to credit against a Cities Improvement Project. The proposed projects sobering trend of low overall private sector credit. A will help the cities of Abbottabad, Kohat, Mardan, Peshawar, and others in KPK improve their access to contributing factor for this limited access to credit is the focus quality urban services and civic amenities through of banks on relationship lending without introducing enhanced municipal infrastructure, public urban spaces, and transport facilities. Up to 3.5 million people tailored products suited to the needs of SMEs. Furthermore, are expected to benet from the projects, which are to the requirement for adequate collateral, information be conanced with the Asian Infrastructure Investment asymmetry between banks and SMEs, and lack of Bank. documentation and poor cash flow management on the ADB's nancing includes a $7 million loan and a AZ $2 million grant from the Urban Climate Change SME’s part combine to make financing more difficult. Resilience Trust Fund (UCCRTF), which was Syed Shabbar Zaidi, Chairman FBR established in December 2013 by ADB with nancial

KARAAND support from the governments of Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States, as well as the The Forum also featured fireside-chats and panel discussions on financing mechanisms, PPP models for DB approved $9 million in project readiness critical infrastructure in the rapidly urbanizing province. Rockefeller Foundation. The UCCRTF helps medium- sized cities in Asia build resilience to the effects of innovative financing, challenges and opportunities of private sector investment, and key legal and regulatory nancing (PRF) to support the preparation and This is the rst project approved under the PRF in climate variability and climate change, particularly to roadblocks to attracting private sector investments in Pakistan. Adesign of urban sector projects in Khyber Central and West Asia, which is part of a set of new reduce the vulnerability of the urban poor. Pakhtunkhwa in March 2019 which will support the nancing instruments approved by ADB's Board of Government of Pakistan in accelerating the delivery of January 2020 January 2020 PAKISTAN NEWS PAKISTAN NEWS ADB Provides $75 Million to Upgrade Karachi Breeze Red Line: Mardan–Swabi Road in Khyber Pakistan's First Waste-to-Fuel Transport Project he Karachi Breeze Red Line will be the rst transport system in Pakistan to use bio- Pakhtunkhwa Tmethane produced from animal waste as a fuel resource for its bus eet, providing an efcient and DB and the Government of Pakistan signed a Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province along the Indus and region. affordable transport solution for citizens and loan agreement for $75 million to widen and Kabul rivers. The region boasts rich Gandhara and The average daily trafc on the road connecting signicantly reducing carbon emission level in the city. upgrade 42 kilometers (km) of the busy Buddhist archeological and cultural heritage including A the two cities is about 7,000 vehicles, excluding the The feasibility and design for the biogas project Mardan–Swabi road in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa the world heritage site of Takht Bhai. The upgraded high volume of non-motorized trafc. Trafc will was presented on 28 November 2019 at a national province in Pakistan. road will ease trafc congestion and make travel faster continue to grow at 3.4% annually. conference in Karachi organized by ADB in and safer for tourists, commuters, and truckers in the The loan agreements were signed by ADB collaboration with the Government of Sindh, UN Country Director for Pakistan Ms. Xiaohong Yang and Green Climate Fund (GCF), Asian Infrastructure Secretary of the Economic Affairs Division Mr. Noor Investment Bank and the Agence Française de Ahmed on 26 February 2019 at a ceremony in Développement (AFD), all nanciers of the Karachi Islamabad. Secretary of the Communications and Red Line project. Work Department Mr. Shahab Khattak represented According to the feasibility study, the Karachi Red Pakhtunkhwa Highway Authority and the Government Line BRT will have its own dedicated biogas plant of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. located in the Landhi Cattle Colony, where 2,000 tons The nancing for the new road section expands of cattle waste will be used to produce 60,000 Nm3 the scope of a $140 million loan for the ongoing per day of biogas. The biogas plant will deliver 11 tons Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Provincial Road Improvement per day of Compressed Biomethane Gas to the bus Project. The original project will improve eight sections eet, increasing to 17 tons over the life of the BRT line of key provincial roads to improve transport efciency as demand increases. and safety. ADB Imtiaz Ahmed Shaikh, Sindh Minister for Energy; The additional $75 million in nancing, approved Malik Amin Aslam, Federal Minister and Adviser to by the ADB Board of Directors in December 2018, Prime Minister for Climate Change; Xiaohong Yang, Marc Barety, Ambassador of France to Pakistan and ADB Country Director Xiaohong Yang presenting the Karachi will upgrade the existing two-lane road between ADB Country Director for Pakistan; Sindh Transport Breeze plaque to Malik Amin Aslam, Adviser to Prime Minister on Climate Change at the conference on 28 Mardan and Swabi to a four-lane divided road to November 2019 in Karachi. accommodate increasing trafc and improve environmental resilience. and Mass Transit Department Minister, Awais Qadir works and equipment costs. Shah highlighted various features of the project. The Mardan–Swabi road spans the fertile ADB will also administer a $37.2 million loan and agricultural and emerging industrial heartland of the ADB on 5 July 2019 approved a $235 million an $11.8 million grant from the Green Climate Fund. loan to help develop a bus rapid transit (BRT) system The GCF loan will nance the biogas plant and the ADB with innovative energy and climate resilience features incremental cost of the transition from basic diesel bus that will enhance access to quality public transport for technology to compressed natural gas hybrid bus people in Karachi, Pakistan's largest and most technology, with the biomethane extracted from cattle ADB Project to Enhance Secondary populated city. waste. The Karachi Bus Rapid Transit Red Line Project will deliver the Bus Rapid Transit Line Red Line corridor and associated facilities beneting as many as 1.5 The Karachi Red Line Education in Sindh million people of Karachi's population. More than B R T w i l l h a v e i t s o w n 300,000 passengers per day are expected on the Red DB provided a $75 million loan for a project communication technology and state-of-the-art staff. d e d i c a t e d b i o g a s p l a n t Line BRT routes. ADB will partially administer two that will help improve the quality, accessibility, laboratory equipment in selected schools. The Total cost of the project is $82.5 million, with the $100 million loans from the Asian Infrastructure located in the Landhi Cattle and gender responsiveness of the secondary province's secondary education examination system A Government of Pakistan contributing $7.5 million. The Investment Bank and the Agence Française de Colony. education system and infrastructure in the province of will be improved by increasing its emphasis on critical project is expected to the completed by the end of Développement to jointly nance the project's civil Sindh. thinking, providing of new technology, and capacity 2025. Pakistan has 22.8 million out-of-school children, development for examination board assessors and 28% of whom are in Sindh. The province also has the second-lowest gross enrollment ratios and net enrollment rates at all education levels in the country. The Sindh Secondary Education Improvement Project, approved on 28 October 2019, will nance the construction of about 160 new secondary school blocks within existing government school compounds, largely in 10 districts in southern Sindh. The new blocks will feature gender-responsive features such as separate sanitation facilities and separate prayer rooms for females. They will also be tted with solar power. Secondary school blocks will be managed by private partners under the government's education management organizations program. The project will also improve teaching capacity in ve key subjects, namely English, mathematics, biology, chemistry, and physics, through the introduction of a teacher training and mentoring program using information and ADB January 2020 January 2020 PAKISTAN NEWS PAKISTAN NEWS ADB Provides $75 Million to Upgrade Karachi Breeze Red Line: Mardan–Swabi Road in Khyber Pakistan's First Waste-to-Fuel Transport Project he Karachi Breeze Red Line will be the rst transport system in Pakistan to use bio- Pakhtunkhwa Tmethane produced from animal waste as a fuel resource for its bus eet, providing an efcient and DB and the Government of Pakistan signed a Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province along the Indus and region. affordable transport solution for citizens and loan agreement for $75 million to widen and Kabul rivers. The region boasts rich Gandhara and The average daily trafc on the road connecting signicantly reducing carbon emission level in the city. upgrade 42 kilometers (km) of the busy Buddhist archeological and cultural heritage including A the two cities is about 7,000 vehicles, excluding the The feasibility and design for the biogas project Mardan–Swabi road in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa the world heritage site of Takht Bhai. The upgraded high volume of non-motorized trafc. Trafc will was presented on 28 November 2019 at a national province in Pakistan. road will ease trafc congestion and make travel faster continue to grow at 3.4% annually. conference in Karachi organized by ADB in and safer for tourists, commuters, and truckers in the The loan agreements were signed by ADB collaboration with the Government of Sindh, UN Country Director for Pakistan Ms. Xiaohong Yang and Green Climate Fund (GCF), Asian Infrastructure Secretary of the Economic Affairs Division Mr. Noor Investment Bank and the Agence Française de Ahmed on 26 February 2019 at a ceremony in Développement (AFD), all nanciers of the Karachi Islamabad. Secretary of the Communications and Red Line project. Work Department Mr. Shahab Khattak represented According to the feasibility study, the Karachi Red Pakhtunkhwa Highway Authority and the Government Line BRT will have its own dedicated biogas plant of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. located in the Landhi Cattle Colony, where 2,000 tons The nancing for the new road section expands of cattle waste will be used to produce 60,000 Nm3 the scope of a $140 million loan for the ongoing per day of biogas. The biogas plant will deliver 11 tons Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Provincial Road Improvement per day of Compressed Biomethane Gas to the bus Project. The original project will improve eight sections eet, increasing to 17 tons over the life of the BRT line of key provincial roads to improve transport efciency as demand increases. and safety. ADB Imtiaz Ahmed Shaikh, Sindh Minister for Energy; The additional $75 million in nancing, approved Malik Amin Aslam, Federal Minister and Adviser to by the ADB Board of Directors in December 2018, Prime Minister for Climate Change; Xiaohong Yang, Marc Barety, Ambassador of France to Pakistan and ADB Country Director Xiaohong Yang presenting the Karachi will upgrade the existing two-lane road between ADB Country Director for Pakistan; Sindh Transport Breeze plaque to Malik Amin Aslam, Adviser to Prime Minister on Climate Change at the conference on 28 Mardan and Swabi to a four-lane divided road to November 2019 in Karachi. accommodate increasing trafc and improve environmental resilience. and Mass Transit Department Minister, Awais Qadir works and equipment costs. Shah highlighted various features of the project. The Mardan–Swabi road spans the fertile ADB will also administer a $37.2 million loan and agricultural and emerging industrial heartland of the ADB on 5 July 2019 approved a $235 million an $11.8 million grant from the Green Climate Fund. loan to help develop a bus rapid transit (BRT) system The GCF loan will nance the biogas plant and the ADB with innovative energy and climate resilience features incremental cost of the transition from basic diesel bus that will enhance access to quality public transport for technology to compressed natural gas hybrid bus people in Karachi, Pakistan's largest and most technology, with the biomethane extracted from cattle ADB Project to Enhance Secondary populated city. waste. The Karachi Bus Rapid Transit Red Line Project will deliver the Bus Rapid Transit Line Red Line corridor and associated facilities beneting as many as 1.5 The Karachi Red Line Education in Sindh million people of Karachi's population. More than B R T w i l l h a v e i t s o w n 300,000 passengers per day are expected on the Red DB provided a $75 million loan for a project communication technology and state-of-the-art staff. d e d i c a t e d b i o g a s p l a n t Line BRT routes. ADB will partially administer two that will help improve the quality, accessibility, laboratory equipment in selected schools. The Total cost of the project is $82.5 million, with the $100 million loans from the Asian Infrastructure located in the Landhi Cattle and gender responsiveness of the secondary province's secondary education examination system A Government of Pakistan contributing $7.5 million. The Investment Bank and the Agence Française de Colony. education system and infrastructure in the province of will be improved by increasing its emphasis on critical project is expected to the completed by the end of Développement to jointly nance the project's civil Sindh. thinking, providing of new technology, and capacity 2025. Pakistan has 22.8 million out-of-school children, development for examination board assessors and 28% of whom are in Sindh. The province also has the second-lowest gross enrollment ratios and net enrollment rates at all education levels in the country. The Sindh Secondary Education Improvement Project, approved on 28 October 2019, will nance the construction of about 160 new secondary school blocks within existing government school compounds, largely in 10 districts in southern Sindh. The new blocks will feature gender-responsive features such as separate sanitation facilities and separate prayer rooms for females. They will also be tted with solar power. Secondary school blocks will be managed by private partners under the government's education management organizations program. The project will also improve teaching capacity in ve key subjects, namely English, mathematics, biology, chemistry, and physics, through the introduction of a teacher training and mentoring program using information and ADB January 2020 January 2020 PAKISTAN NEWS PAKISTAN NEWS Pakistan Opens Key Motorway (M-4) Co-funded by ADB, ADB Partners Pakistan's Judiciary to Establish Asia's First DFID, and AIIB Court to Address Gender-Based Violence Cases

akistan in 2019 inaugurated the Gojra–Shorkot M3, shortening the distance between southern Punjab including Lahore, Islamabad, and Peshawar. hief Justice of Pakistan, Mr. Justice Asif Saeed from all over Pakistan at the Punjab Judicial Academy in Committee (NJPMC), comprising senior Justices of section of the Motorway M4 constructed with with central and northern urban and business centers Khosa lauded ADB support to establish Asia's Lahore on 27 July. ADB Country Director Xiaohong the Supreme Court and Chief Justices of the High Pthe support of ADB and the Department for Crst Gender Based Violence (GBV) Court in Yang, OGC Principal Counsel Irum Ahsan also Courts under the chairmanship of the Chief Justice of International Development (DFID) of the United Pakistan while addressing the concluding ceremony of addressed the high-level audience. Pakistan, during their meeting in April 2019 requested Kingdom, and the Shorkot–Khanewal road section, a 3-week extensive GBV training program for judges Pakistan's National Judicial (Policy Making) ADB to assist Pakistan's judiciary to set up GBV-courts which is conanced by ADB, DFID, and the Asian in all districts of Pakistan. Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). They also requested to provide specialized The M4 is part of Pakistan's plans to upgrade trainings for judges to strengthen judicial capacity on highway networks connecting the country's southern gender-based violence cases. This training program and northern parts, helping improve road links was delivered by ADB in response to NJPMC's between Pakistan and the neighboring Central Asian decision. Judges from Baluchistan; Khyber countries as well as the People's Republic of China. Pakhtunkhwa; Punjab, Sindh, and Islamabad attended the training program. The M4 now connects Faisalabad with Multan and onward to Sukkur, it will ultimately provide an Pakistan became the rst country in Asia and efcient transport corridor link between the northern the Pacic region to formally establish a Gender Based part of the country with the port cities of Karachi and Violence (GBV) Court to provide easy and speedy ADB access to justice for vulnerable women facing violence. Gwadar. The M4 also link up these cities with the The new section of the motorway is a step forward in Pakistan's expanding high quality roads to facilitate improved Secretary of the Law and Justice Commission of existing networks of national motorways M1, M2, and north-south connectivity and to help position the country as trade, tourism, and industry hubs. Pakistan, Dr. Muhammad Raheem Awan, and Director General of Punjab Judicial Academy Abdul Sattar underscored the importance and need to extend gender-based training programs to judges and judicial ADB Provides $107 Million for Water Resource Chief Justice of Pakistan, Mr. Justice Asif Saeed Khosa addressing the judges participating in the GBV training program. staff of the district level courts across the country. Development in Balochistan Province ADB supports Pakistan's Financial Action Task Force plan

DB and the Provincial Government of on 130 ha of agricultural land, improving crop yields assistance will help Balochistan's provincial government ver 270 participants representing 35 Balochistan signed the project agreement of a and water usage on 160 fruit and vegetable farms, and improve its institutional capacity to address the risks commercial banks, 20 micronance A$107 million loan and grants to improve demonstrating high-value agriculture development. and potential impact of climate change in the Ocompanies, 38 exchange companies, and irrigation infrastructure and water resource ADB will also administer two grants for the agriculture sector, as well as build a climate-resilient and regulators attended the 28-29 October conference management in Balochistan, Pakistan's largest yet project, including $3 million from the Japan Fund for sustainable water resources management mechanism held in Karachi on anti-money laundering and economically poor province. Poverty Reduction and $2 million from the High-Level in the province. countering the nancing of terrorism and trade-based Chief Minister of Balochistan Jam Kamal Khan Technology Fund. In addition, a $2 million technical money laundering, jointly organized by the State Bank witnessed the signing of the project agreement on 5 of Pakistan (SBP) and the ADB Trade Finance Program. January 2019 by Additional Chief Secretary for Governor State bank of Pakistan, Reza Baqir and Development Sajjad Ahmed Bhutta and ADB Country ADB Country Director Xiaohong Yang delivered the Director for Pakistan Xiaohong Yang in provincial opening remarks. Country Director Yang reiterated capital Quetta. ADB's commitment to assist combat nancial crime Agriculture accounts for almost two-thirds of and misuse of funds. Balochistan's economic output and employs 60% of the province's 13 million population, but frequent droughts and poor water management has put the Country Director Yang agriculture, and those who rely on it, at risk. Poverty reiterated ADB's commitment to rates in the province are almost double the national average. assist combat financial crime and SBP misuse of funds. Dr. Reza Baqir, Governor State Bank of Pakistan (6th from left) and Xiaohong Yang, Country Dirtector ADB (4th from The Balochistan Water Resources Development left) with other speakers of the AML conference on 28 October 2019 in Karachi. Sector Project will focus on improving irrigation infrastructure and water resource management in the Zhob and Mula river basins. The two rivers irrigate vast Livable Cities for All: Gender-Smart Urban Development areas of farm land in Balochistan. Among the infrastructure that will be upgraded r. Atif Khan, Tourism Minister of Khyber space to expand opportunities for women in or built for the project are watershed protection and Pakhtunkhwa province highlighted the urban economy. The seminar provided a platform command area able to hold 36 million cubic meters of importance of gender-smart urban for professionals to exchange knowledge and local as water; 276 kilometers of irrigation channels and M planning to leverage business opportunities for well as international best practices in developing drainage canals; and facilities that will make it easier for women, especially in the tourism related enterprises safer, accessible and affordable, women- friendly people, especially women, to access water for in Pakistan at an ADB seminar Livable Cities for All urban spaces and services to ensure inclusive domestic use. In total, about 16,592 hectares (ha) of held on 4 April in Islamabad. Pakistan Resident economic growth and poverty reduction. The pilot land will be added or improved for irrigation. Mission’s Zheng Wu shared ADB's experience and its project “Sustainable Urban Solutions for Women's

The project will protect watersheds through ADB key investments in Pakistan's urban sector Economic Empowerment” (nanced under RETA extensive land and water conservation efforts, Chief Minister of Balochistan province Jam Kamal Khan witnessed the signing of the project agreement by Additional development. Urban planning experts, public 9088) is based on the concept of creating urban

including planting trees on 4,145 ha of barren land to ADB Chief Secretary for Development Sajjad Ahmed Bhutta and ADB Country Director for Pakistan Xiaohong Yang in representatives, women entrepreneurs, and leaders women-friendly spaces particularly within the combat soil erosion. Its output includes pilot testing of Atif Khan, Tourism Minister of Khyber Pakhunkhwa province Quetta. attended the day-long seminar to discuss strategies business centers to help women entrepreneurs technologies like solar-powered drip irrigation systems for gender-friendly urban realize their potential and capabilities. addressing the seminar. January 2020 January 2020 PAKISTAN NEWS PAKISTAN NEWS Pakistan Opens Key Motorway (M-4) Co-funded by ADB, ADB Partners Pakistan's Judiciary to Establish Asia's First DFID, and AIIB Court to Address Gender-Based Violence Cases akistan in 2019 inaugurated the Gojra–Shorkot M3, shortening the distance between southern Punjab including Lahore, Islamabad, and Peshawar. hief Justice of Pakistan, Mr. Justice Asif Saeed from all over Pakistan at the Punjab Judicial Academy in Committee (NJPMC), comprising senior Justices of section of the Motorway M4 constructed with with central and northern urban and business centers Khosa lauded ADB support to establish Asia's Lahore on 27 July. ADB Country Director Xiaohong the Supreme Court and Chief Justices of the High Pthe support of ADB and the Department for Crst Gender Based Violence (GBV) Court in Yang, OGC Principal Counsel Irum Ahsan also Courts under the chairmanship of the Chief Justice of International Development (DFID) of the United Pakistan while addressing the concluding ceremony of addressed the high-level audience. Pakistan, during their meeting in April 2019 requested Kingdom, and the Shorkot–Khanewal road section, a 3-week extensive GBV training program for judges Pakistan's National Judicial (Policy Making) ADB to assist Pakistan's judiciary to set up GBV-courts which is conanced by ADB, DFID, and the Asian in all districts of Pakistan. Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). They also requested to provide specialized The M4 is part of Pakistan's plans to upgrade trainings for judges to strengthen judicial capacity on highway networks connecting the country's southern gender-based violence cases. This training program and northern parts, helping improve road links was delivered by ADB in response to NJPMC's between Pakistan and the neighboring Central Asian decision. Judges from Baluchistan; Khyber countries as well as the People's Republic of China. Pakhtunkhwa; Punjab, Sindh, and Islamabad attended the training program. The M4 now connects Faisalabad with Multan and onward to Sukkur, it will ultimately provide an Pakistan became the rst country in Asia and efcient transport corridor link between the northern the Pacic region to formally establish a Gender Based part of the country with the port cities of Karachi and Violence (GBV) Court to provide easy and speedy ADB access to justice for vulnerable women facing violence. Gwadar. The M4 also link up these cities with the The new section of the motorway is a step forward in Pakistan's expanding high quality roads to facilitate improved Secretary of the Law and Justice Commission of existing networks of national motorways M1, M2, and north-south connectivity and to help position the country as trade, tourism, and industry hubs. Pakistan, Dr. Muhammad Raheem Awan, and Director General of Punjab Judicial Academy Abdul Sattar underscored the importance and need to extend gender-based training programs to judges and judicial ADB Provides $107 Million for Water Resource Chief Justice of Pakistan, Mr. Justice Asif Saeed Khosa addressing the judges participating in the GBV training program. staff of the district level courts across the country. Development in Balochistan Province ADB supports Pakistan's Financial Action Task Force plan

This annual newsletter of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) Pakistan Resident Mission (PRM) aims to enhance communications between ADB and its client groups. ADB Review Pakistan disseminates information on ADB activities and development issues in Pakistan. Articles in the newsletter, however, do not reect the ofcial ADB view. PID Prime Minister Imran Khan leading the groundbreaking ceremony for the Jalalpur Irrigation Project Xiaohong Yang on 26 December 2019 in Jhelum, Pakistan. Country Director akistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan on The Jalalpur Irrigation Project will build a 26 December led the groundbreaking new seasonal irrigation system and convert less M. Ismail Khan Pceremony for the ADB-funded Jalalpur productive, predominantly rain-fed land to Senior External Relations Ofcer Irrigation Project, a new irrigation system set to irrigated land. The project will construct a convert over 68,000 hectares of rain-fed area diversion structure, a 117 kilometers main to irrigated land benetting over 384,000 canal, 97 kilometers secondary and tertiary Pakistan Resident Mission people. The $275 million project drawing canals, and 485 watercourses. The project will Asian Development Bank water from the Jhelum River will boost also assist in forming 485 water user GPO Box 1863, Islamabad, Pakistan agriculture and food security in the Jhelum and associations and involve them in planning, Tel +92 51 260 0351–69 / 208 7300 Khushab districts. designing, and constructing watercourses. Fax +92 51 208 7397–8, 260 0365-6 Email:[email protected] ADB, Pakistan Prepares New Country Partnership • Facebook: www.facebook.com/adbprm Strategy to Drive Economic Growth

DB and the Government of Pakistan in July discussed the development opportunities that the • Twitter: @PakistanADB held a series of country consultations to country presents. Aformulate a new Country Partnership Representatives of the provincial • Send feedback to [email protected] Strategy (CPS), which will guide ADB's governments of Punjab, Sindh, Khyber engagement in the country from 2020 to 2024. Pakhtunkhwa, and Baluchistan outlined key During consultation on 8 August in features of their development and growth Islamabad, Nadeem Babar, Special Assistant to the strategies. Prime Minister for the Petroleum Division, The purpose of ADB's 5-year CPS is to ADB Online discussed the implementation of energy sector dene priorities to support Pakistan's development reforms. Secretary for the Economic Affairs goals. The new strategy will also complement Division Noor Ahmed, ADB Senior Advisor for efforts by other development partners. Central and West Asia Muhammad Ehsan Khan, ADB Country Director for Pakistan Xiaohong Consultation meetings were also held in the To visit our country website, go to Yang, and ADB's Director for Regional provinces with the local governments and other www.adb.org/pakistan Cooperation and Operations Safdar Parvez also stakeholders including academia, civil society, the private sector, and other development partners. To learn how to work with ADB, go to https://www.adb.org/business/main

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n For publications, go to www.adb.org/ ADB Publications ADB Country Director for Pakistan Xiaohong Yang (leftmost) speaking at a consultation meeting to discuss ADB's new country partnership strategy for Pakistan.

January 2020