The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved an additional $48 million in financing for Pakistan to support a major water resource project in Balochistan, the bank said in a statement.
According to ADB, the funds will be used to expand and modernize water infrastructure in the province, introducing an upgraded piped water supply system designed to significantly reduce water losses. The project aims to ease the severe water scarcity that has placed heavy pressure on Balochistan’s agriculture sector — the backbone of the provincial economy.
Balochistan’s economy relies heavily on farming, which accounts for nearly two-thirds of the province’s economic output, while about 60 percent of the population depends on agriculture for its livelihood. Prolonged drought, climate impacts, and groundwater depletion have deepened the crisis in recent years.
ADB noted that the project will improve water availability across 1,839 hectares of rain-fed agricultural land, helping boost crop productivity and enhance climate resilience. The initiative is expected to create new job opportunities in the Zhob and Mula river basins, with a particular focus on supporting women’s participation in economic activities.
The financing package also includes co-funding from the Japan Fund and the High-Level Technology Fund, which will support the introduction of advanced water management technologies in the region.
