ISLAMABAD: The Balochistan government will receive more than $256 million for implementation of five different projects in the province.

The breakdown of funding shows approval of $200m credit to strengthen Balochistan government’s initiative for community-based water management for irrigation in the province.

Approximately, 42, 800 farm households will benefit from the project’s interventions.

Balochistan Integrated Water Resources Management and Development Project will support investments in two of the 18 basins in Balochistan. Nari and Porali river basins were selected based on an assessment of surface water resources development opportunities.

“Balochistan is the least water-secure province in Pakistan and farmers here face the greatest risks from climate change,” says Illango Patchamuthu, the World Bank Country Director for Pakistan.

“The project is designed to boost farmer incomes through new irrigation infrastructure and improved on-farm management and rangeland management. An associated objective is building the province’s capacity for long-term water resources planning,” he remarked.

The main project beneficiaries will be small-holding farmers (up to 12.3 acres) and medium holding farmers (12.35 to 49.4 acres) engaged in irrigated agriculture. The province’s hydro-meteorological monitoring and river basin information systems will also be strengthened.

The project will be financed from the International Development Association (IDA) — World Bank’s grant and low interest arm. It will be on standard IDA terms, with a maturity of 25 years, including a grace period of 5 years.

The European Union and government of Pakistan on Wed­nesday also signed two financing agreements worth €59m.

Tariq Bajwa, Secretary Economic Affairs Division, signed the agreements on behalf of Pakistan while Stefano Gatto, Chargé d’Affaires signed on EU’s behalf.

The EU and the government of Balochistan have jointly designed a six year programme to which the EU will contribute €45m (Rs5bn approximately) to support community-led local development and local governance.

The Balochistan Rural Development and Community Empowerment Programme will help communities as well as provincial and local authorities to partner in reducing the negative impact of economic deprivation, poverty and social inequality, environmental degradation and climate change.

On the occasion, Mr Gatto said the EU firmly believes in the importance of rule of law as a key factor for inclusive growth and development, applied to every dimension of law, and in particular labour law.

The project will not only help the competitiveness of Pak­istani products if they are labelled “fair trade” but will also help Pakistan to improve the use of international standards in terms of environment, he said.

Furthermore, the respect of international environmental standards will allow Pakistan to use the label of “green” products, which will increase competitiveness of Pakistan, he added.

The €12.6m project International Labour and Environment Standards (ILES) will promote the enforcement, implementation and compliance with ILES by public and private sector institutions and organisations in Pakistan.

The EU has allocated €653m to finance development projects in Pakistan during the 2014-2020 period, focusing principally on rural development, education and vocational training, as well as on governance, human rights and rule of law.

Published in Dawn, June 30th, 2016