ISLAMABAD: The World Bank has approved an additional $108 million for two projects in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), the funding will support the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Integrated Tourism Development (KITE) project and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Rural Accessibility Project (KPRAP).
The KITE project will receive 30million, while the KPRAP will get 78 million. According to the World Bank, this funding will help both projects meet their goals of improving access to markets, jobs, and health and education services while making the province better prepared for natural disasters.
Najy Benhassine, World Bank Country Director for Pakistan, said the projects will repair rural roads, improve disaster preparedness, and create job opportunities for local communities.
The $78 million for KPRAP will be used to upgrade rural roads, making them safer and more resilient to climate impacts. This will help people reach schools, health facilities, and markets more easily. The project also aims to provide safer transport for girls going to school. Around 1.76 million people are expected to benefit.
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Muhammad Bilal Paracha, the project’s Task Team Leader, said the funding shows the World Bank’s support for Pakistan’s development goals. He added that the project will particularly help women and girls by improving their access to services and job opportunities.
The $30 million for KITE will help develop tourism in the province by repairing two roads leading to tourist areas. It will also provide training for tourism workers and government officials, improve heritage conservation, and introduce digital tools for tourism management.
Kiran Afzal, Task Team Leader for KITE, said the project will promote responsible tourism, create jobs, and train local communities while preserving cultural heritage.
