ISLAMABAD: The European Union fulfilled the pledge of an additional euro 100 million grant to enhance post-flood resilience in Pakistan.
The EU Ambassador to Pakistan, Riina Kionka and Dr Kazim Niaz, Secretary of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, signed five new EU grant agreements. These agreements, under Team Europe’s response to the 2022 post-flood Resilient Recovery, Rehabilitation, and Recon-struction Framework, signify a commitment of nearly EUR 100 million (equivalent to over Rs30 billion).
The new EU support package aims to fortify Pakistan’s resilience in the aftermath of the floods, bringing the total Team Europe response to the 2022 floods to over EUR 930 million. The specific focus areas include revitalising the rural economy in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and restoring the disrupted livestock value chains in flood-affected Balochistan. These activities align with the expansive EU Global Gateway initiative, the largest EU investment program designed to propel the global green transition. Moreover, the package extends its impact by fortifying Pakistan’s long-term resilience through targeted investments in human rights, gender equality, and civil society.
Secretary Dr Kazim Niaz further emphasised that there are unmet needs in the flood-affected areas that require assistance of development partners.
EU Ambassador Dr Riina Kionka stated; Pakistan is not alone in overcoming its challenging phase of economic crisis and flood recovery. The EU and Team Europe partners are committed to building back better, sustainably improving lives in the most affected communities in KP and Balochistan.
The EU’s commitment to Pakistan encompasses a vision of a stable, democratic, and pluralistic country that respects human rights and maximizes its economic potential.
The EU annually provides approximately EUR 90 million in grants for development and cooperation, supporting Pakistan’s initiatives to combat poverty, enhance education, promote good governance, human rights, rule of law, and ensure sustainable natural resource management. The EU’s cooperation spans across all of Pakistan, with a special focus on Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit Baltistan, Balochistan, and Sindh.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2024