ISLAMABAD, May 11 (ABC): The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has spent over Rs 580 million during Fiscal Year 2025-26 under the World Bank-funded KP Rural Investment and Institutional Support Project, aimed at improving rural infrastructure, public services and institutional capacity in the province’s merged districts.
According to documents available with Wealth Pakistan, the total cost of the project stands at Rs109.9 billion and it is being implemented by the Agriculture, Irrigation, Public Health Engineering (PHED), Communication & Works (C&W), and Local Government departments.
The documents show that cumulative spending under the project reached Rs707 million by June 2025. For FY2025-26, the government allocated Rs4.2 billion, of which Rs580.46 million has already been utilized, reflecting a release rate of 12.29 percent. The project will continue until June 2031.
Under the Agriculture Department, authorities are promoting modern farming practices and improving private-sector agricultural services in rural areas.
So far, 168 agricultural machines have been distributed to support on-farm processing and value addition businesses. In addition, 145 rainwater harvesting and soil erosion control structures have been completed to improve water conservation.
The project has also introduced modern farming technologies in remote areas. Around 310 walk-in tunnel systems and 213 vertical farming units have been installed to help farmers increase crop productivity and improve year-round cultivation.
Project management and monitoring systems are currently operational. The Project Coordination and Management Unit (PCMU) has been established, while monitoring and evaluation firms have also been hired to ensure transparency and efficient implementation.
In the Communication and Works sector, five out of 14 infrastructure schemes planned on state-owned land have been approved, while the remaining projects are undergoing approval and PC-1 preparation.
Land acquisition for 18 additional sites is also being pursued in coordination with the Finance Department, Senior Member Board of Revenue (SMBR), and district administrations.
Under the Public Health Engineering Department, consultants have been hired for the design and supervision of sanitation schemes. A total of 32 projects — including 13 drinking water supply schemes and 19 sanitation projects — are currently under preparation.
The Bajaur rehabilitation project has already received approval from the Provincial Development Working Party (PDWP), while planning documents are being prepared for projects in Mohmand, Khyber, Kurram, and Orakzai districts.
Sanitation planning and financing models are being revised, and updated cost estimates will be included after final designs are finalized.
