ISLAMABAD: The World Bank has approved $108 million in additional loans to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for its Rural Accessibility Project and Integrated Tourism Development Project to help achieve their objectives for improved access to health, education and jobs.

In a statement, the World Bank said it approved $78m in additional financing for the Rural Accessibility Project and $30m for the Integrated Tourism Development Project to strengthen resilience to natural disasters.

World Bank Country Director for Pakistan Najy Benhassine said by rehabilitating critical rural road infrastructure and enhancing disaster preparedness, the two projects are not only improving access to essential services like health and education but also fostering climate and economic resilience and creating job opportunities for local communities.

The additional financing for rural accessibility would focus on providing safe and climate-resilient road infrastructure, by upgrading and rehabilitating rural roads, thereby improving access to services including schools, health facilities, and markets. The project is also supporting safe and affordable transport to schools for girls. Overall, around 1.76m people are expected to benefit from the project.

The $30m financing for the tourism project would help enhance the province’s tourism sector by completing the rehabilitation of two roads that will improve access to the province’s pristine tourist spots in the vicinity. It will also support technical assistance and capacity building for the tourism industry and public sector stakeholders. The additional financing will support better destination management, heritage conservation, and the integration of digital platforms in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s tourism industry.

Published in Dawn, April 30th, 2025