The Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Wednesday approved a $250-million policy-based loan to help Pakistan drive sustainable investments in infrastructure and services through public-private partnerships (PPPs).

As per a press statement, the loan is part of ADB’s Promoting Sustainable Public–Private Partnerships Programme that supports the implementation of government policies to create an enabling environment for fiscally affordable PPPs and promote inclusive economic growth.

“This programme is part of our comprehensive and integrated package of public sector management support that balances the country’s fiscal consolidation and growth objectives,” said ADB Director General for Central and West Asia Yevgeniy Zhukov.

“The programme will help the government of Pakistan create an environment that is conducive to strategic, fiscally affordable PPPs that will bring the country closer to its development goals,” he said.

As per the Manila-based lender’s statement, ADB’s programme supports reforms that will increase the absorptive capacity of PPP infrastructure investments by creating a more robust and integrated legal and institutional framework for public investment management and public financial management for PPPs.

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“The programme supports implementation of an integrated PPP policy,” it said.

“The reforms will facilitate efficient infrastructure planning and promote sustainable development practices in infrastructure projects, such as climate risk screening and gender considerations in project feasibility assessments and PPP contracts.

“Mobilising private finance through PPPs can help to bridge the financing gap in public sector infrastructure projects—which is vital,” said ADB Economist Sana Masood.

“This programme will help ensure PPPs in Pakistan are structured correctly and implemented effectively in order to deliver more efficiency, innovation, and value for money.”

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Moreover, a $700,000 technical assistance grant is financing the programme’s preparation and implementation, ADB said.

In December 2023, an additional $950,000 was approved by ADB to support PPP pipeline identification, capacity building, and sector strategy development.