17.2bn Rural Development, Climate Resilience Project Agreement Signed For GB

The Government of Gilgit-Baltistan, European Union, Agence Française de Développement (AFD) and Aga Khan Foundation formally signed an agreement for the Rural Development and Climate Resilience Project for Gilgit-Baltistan, with an estimated cost of Rs17.2 billion (54.24 million Euros). The project will cover all districts of Gilgit-Baltistan and focus on mitigating the impacts of climate change, protecting communities from natural disasters, improving basic services and enhancing the life quality. Under the project, 216 water supply schemes will provide access to clean drinking water, while micro-hydel and solar systems will offer alternative energy solutions with an expected combined generation capacity of 1,200 to 1,300 kilowatts. Vulnerability assessments related to natural disasters will be carried out in all 110 union councils, while 3,000 houses will be made environmentally sustainable through green retrofitting and 700 new climate-resilient and energy-efficient houses will be constructed.