- Coastal project targets flood risks and ecosystem restoration (ministry)
- The Punjab initiative promotes low-carbon and climate-smart agriculture.
- Millions of people will benefit from resilience and productivity measures: ministry.
Pakistan and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Tuesday signed two major climate resilience initiatives aimed at strengthening coastal protection and promoting low-carbon agriculture.
According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Finance and Revenue, the agreements include the $180.5 million Sindh Coastal Resilience Sector Project (SCRP) and the $124 million Punjab Climate Resilient Low Carbon Agriculture Mechanization Project.
Speaking at the signing ceremony in Islamabad, Secretary Ministry of Economic Affairs Muhammad Humair Karim appreciated ADB’s continued support, describing it as a trusted development partner in Pakistan’s efforts to advance climate resilience, sustainable agriculture and inclusive growth.
He said the Sindh Coastal Resilience Project would promote integrated water resources and flood risk management, restore nature-based coastal defenses and strengthen institutional and community capacities for strategic planning.
The project will be financed by $140.5 million from ADB, including a loan of $140 million and a technical assistance grant of $0.5 million, $40 million from the Green Climate Fund and $20 million in counterpart funding from the Sindh government. It is expected to directly benefit over 3.8 million people in Thatta, Sujawal and Badin districts.
Karim said the Climate Resilient Low Carbon Punjab Agriculture Mechanization Project would improve agricultural productivity and climate resilience in 30 districts of Punjab. The project, totaling $129 million, will be financed by an ADB loan of $120 million, an ADB grant of $4 million and counterpart funding of $5 million from the Punjab government.
Under the project, small farmers will benefit from better access to climate-smart machinery, circular farming practices will be introduced to reduce burning of crop residues, testing and training facilities will be created, and 15,000 women will be empowered through skills development and livelihood diversification.
The secretary said both initiatives were transformative, noting that the Sindh project would safeguard livelihoods, food security and biodiversity along the vulnerable coastal belt of the province, while the Punjab project would promote sustainable low-carbon agricultural growth and inclusive development.
ADB Country Director Emma Fan welcomed Pakistan’s commitment, highlighting the importance of the Sindh project in tackling climate-induced risks and protecting coastal communities, and describing Punjab’s mechanization initiative as a key step towards modernizing agriculture and reducing emissions.
Both parties reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring the effective use of funding and the timely completion of both projects.
