The Asian Development Bank (ADB) would provide $305 million to Pakistan for social protection for the poor and public health emergency preparedness in the efforts to support the Covid-19 emergency relief services under the title "Emergency Assistance for Fighting against Covid-19 Pandemic."
The ADB will provide USD 200 million for social protection for the poor and vulnerable, and USD 105 million for public health emergency preparedness.
A meeting was chaired by Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Muhammad Jehanzeb Khan, which was attended by a delegation of the ADB led by the Country Director Xiaohong Yang.
The meeting of the Concept Clearance Committee was held on 4th May to discuss the financing plan being offered by the ADB in the efforts to support the Covid-19 emergency relief services under the "Emergency Assistance for Fighting against Covid-19 Pandemic" worth USD 305 million was presented and was subsequently approved.
The proposal would also focus on stockpiling of stores and health inventories for any unexpected surge, and to sustain the provision of personal protective equipments (PPEs) and medical supplies throughout coronavirus pandemic.
The proposal also envisage up gradation of existing facilities or adding additional space within existing facilities, training of health staff, strengthening of the health management systems including inventory control, disease surveillance, and standard protocols, as well as the provision of water and sanitation facilities, and improvement of hygiene at public places.
Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Muhammad Jehanzeb Khan said that the government was exploring avenues to provide assistance to those directly affected by the coronavirus pandemic that were previously not eligible for financial assistance from the BISP. He said that various modalities for the provision of the funding to the Government of Pakistan under the loan agreement were discussed.
He said that the forum accorded approval for the ADB loan to the federal government, which would be implemented through the NDRMF (National Disaster Risk Management Fund) for execution in provinces and special areas as grant.
Officials from the Ministry of Planning Commission, Ministry of National Health Services and Regulation, Economic Affairs Division, Ministry of Finance, NDMA and Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) were also present.
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