The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has announced that it will extend a USD 3 million grant from its Asia Pacific Disaster Response Fund to support emergency relief efforts in Pakistan. The grant comes in response to devastating monsoon rains and floods that have displaced communities and caused widespread damage across the country.
The announcement was made during the visit of ADB President Masato Kanda to Pakistan. In a statement, Kanda expressed condolences for the lives lost and the millions affected by the severe flooding. He emphasized ADB’s role in responding quickly to crises while ensuring that immediate humanitarian aid complements longer-term development priorities.
“Pakistan is experiencing devastating flooding that has displaced families and communities, and ADB stands firmly with Pakistan during this crisis,” Kanda stated. “When disasters strike, we respond quickly to help communities rebuild with dignity. This emergency support reflects our enduring commitment to Pakistan’s people through both immediate humanitarian needs and long-term development.”
During his three-day visit, Kanda held extensive discussions with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The talks covered a broad spectrum of areas, including transformative investments, expansion of private sector participation, and Pakistan’s role in supplying critical minerals essential for the global clean energy transition. ADB reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening partnerships through significant capital investments in energy, transport, and urban infrastructure, along with human development through education and health initiatives.
Kanda acknowledged Pakistan’s progress on economic reforms, highlighting recent sovereign rating upgrades by global credit rating agencies. These upgrades were largely attributed to improved domestic resource mobilization and fiscal discipline. He reiterated that ADB remains committed to supporting Pakistan’s reform agenda while facilitating long-term resilience and sustainable growth.
A notable highlight of the discussions was ADB’s approval on August 21 of a USD 410 million financing package for the Reko Diq Mining Project. This investment marks ADB’s re-entry into the mining sector after four decades. Reko Diq, considered one of the world’s largest undeveloped copper-gold deposits, is expected to transform Pakistan into a strategic supplier of critical minerals essential for the global shift toward clean energy technologies.
In addition to government-level meetings, Kanda engaged directly with communities and businesses. He visited the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) One-Window Centre in Islamabad, where he interacted with beneficiaries and jointly launched the Grievance Redressal Mechanism alongside BISP Chairperson Senator Rubina Khalid. The initiative is designed to improve transparency and accountability in delivering social protection services.
Kanda also traveled to Lahore, where he inspected Pakistan’s first sustainable aviation fuel facility. Financed by ADB, the project aims to convert waste cooking oil into sustainable aviation fuel for international markets. This initiative not only supports Pakistan’s renewable energy ambitions but also opens new opportunities for exports in the global green fuel industry.
Throughout the visit, Kanda met with key government officials including Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Khan Cheema, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, and Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif. These discussions emphasized Pakistan’s reform agenda, the need for resilient growth, and the role of transformative projects like Reko Diq in shaping the country’s future economic landscape.
ADB’s multi-layered engagement underscores the institution’s dual commitment: providing rapid humanitarian relief during times of crisis while ensuring consistent support for Pakistan’s long-term development priorities. The $3 million disaster response grant is expected to complement broader investments aimed at building resilience, fostering inclusive growth, and preparing Pakistan for future challenges tied to climate change, global energy transitions, and economic modernization.
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