By Imran Ayub
KARACHI: The World Bank is to provide $50 million to the federal government for small-scale irrigation projects in Balochistan to increase agricultural productivity in the least-developed province of the country.
A World Bank document submitted to the ministry of food, agriculture and livestock said the bank was obliged to support the Pakistan government’s strategy in upgrading its water resources’ management and increasing agricultural productivity.
"Balochistan is the least developed province in Pakistan facing both water and food security challenges," said the World Bank. "The bank’s involvement will help ensure that a systematic approach is adopted in the design of the project that addresses both immediate-and long-term issues in the irrigation sector."
It said a comprehensive package of hardware (physical) component and software (reform) component be built into the project to ensure the sustainability of the project.
"There is adequate consultation and participation of the local community, and any environmental and social concerns are properly addressed and the project works and facilities are procured and constructed with good quality and within the budget and on schedule," said the document.
The World Bank last month also announced it would provide $200 million to Pakistan for electricity distribution and transmission improvement project mainly in rural areas of the country.
The designed lending programme of the World Bank for the electricity project suggests that out of the total $200 million financing it would offer $130 million for electricity distribution, $55 million for transmission and $15 million would be provided for technical assistance.
The fresh announcement to extend financial support for irrigation system development in Balochistan, the bank said, was aimed to help the province better manage its scarce water resources for rural development and poverty reduction through restoring and increasing water storage.
The bank has set Rs 3.3 billion as infrtasturcure development for irrigation system development in the province, which it says includes two parts, including watershed management and irrigation works.
Similarly, the World Bank envisaged Rs 300 million for institutional development in the project to run the system in a smooth way.
"All of the above physical investments will contribute to productivity enhancement and sustainable development only if they are accompanied by major institutional reforms," said the World Bank.
Accordingly, it said the project would invest in institutional development at two levels-- water user and at the provincial level.
"At the water user level, farmers will be organised into user groups to manage the lower irrigation system, and develop groundwater resources according to the agreed development plan," said the bank.
"Farmers will be provided with external technical assistance in irrigation and agricultural technologies through training and extension services."
It added at the provincial level capacity building and reform activities would be included to formulate polices and regulations for effective planning and management of water resources with a long-term vision, and to improve the service standard and accountability of the irrigation management authority.
"Depending on the nature of the solutions, the policy on Involuntary Resettlement may be applicable if land acquisition is required by the project," said the World Bank.
In addition, it elaborates, some of the springs and creeks in the basins come and go between Afghanistan and Pakistan and have to be reviewed in this particular case to assess the applicability of the bank’s policy for Projects on International Waterways Safeguard Policy.
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