The Asian Development Bank  has approved two projects totaling $540 million to accelerate state-owned enterprise  reforms in Pakistan and enhance disaster resilience in the coastal districts of Sindh. The financing comprises a $400 million results-based loan for the Accelerating SOE Transformation Program for Pakistan and a $140 million concessional loan for the Sindh Coastal Resilience Sector Project.   The SOE reform program for Pakistan seeks to improve governance and optimize the performance of Pakistan’s commercial SOEs, which are vital for the country’s economic stability and development.     The program is ADB’s first results-based loan exclusively dedicated to public sector management reform. The bank has been a longstanding partner in supporting Pakistan’s SOE reforms through sector investments, policy operations, and technical assistance.      The Sindh Coastal Resilience Sector Project aims to strengthen disaster resilience in the vulnerable and underserved districts of Badin, Sujawal, and Thatta. The project is co-financed by a $20 million grant and a $20 million concessional loan from the Green Climate Fund through the Community Resilience Partnership Program Investment Fund, administered by ADB.Key investments include upgrading drainage and flood protection systems, restoring mangrove and inland forests, and strengthening monitoring and modeling capacity to support future resilience investments. Community-based resilience plans will ensure locally anchored and inclusive solutions, with at least 25% of funds allocated to initiatives led or undertaken by women. The project complements parallel financing from the International Fund for Agricultural Development, which supports livelihood development in the same districts. (ICE ISLAMABAD)

Fonte notizia: adb