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ADB approves $300,000 aid for poverty plans

Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $300,000 technical assistance (TA) grant to help the government of Punjab prepare a programme to improve and expand social services for the poor.

The programme aims to improve healthcare, education, and water and sanitation facilities for the poor. It will also offer support for related services such as poverty reduction, community participation, and gender in development.

The Devolved Social Services Sector Development Programme for the Punjab is part of the ADB’s 2004 assistance pipeline for $150 million, and follows a similar programme for Sindh, which is in the ADB’s 2003 assistance pipeline.

The focus of the TA will be on relatively low cost services that are easy to administer and that will benefit as many people as possible, especially the poor.

“Activities in the upcoming project will aim at improving run-down facilities and supporting new initiatives, including public-private partnerships. A flexible approach is followed to ensure that funding will be complementary to support of other donors and address the gaps that hamper effective delivery of social services,” said Marshuk Ali Shah, ADB Pakistan director.

The preparatory TA will promote discussions with stakeholders to recommend social sector policies that will help improve the efficiency of local governments in the delivery of social services. Then, activities will be designed to help local governments improve the quality of the expanded social services.

“Priorities will mirror the MDGs (Millennium Development Goals) in extending universal basic education, reducing dropout rates, improving gender balance, reducing maternal and child mortality, and increasing access to safe drinking water supply and sanitation,” Mr Shah said.

The total cost of the TA, which is due to be completed by end-May 2004, is estimated at $400,000, of which the provincial government will contribute $100,000. The Punjab Planning and Development Department will be the executing agency for the TA. A steering committee will be set up to provide overall guidance.

About one third of the Punjab’s population lives in poverty, on less than $1 per day, and faces harsh conditions such as water shortages, unemployment, political turmoil, security problems, and, in some areas, feudal land tenure systems. One third of people lack access to clean drinking water, one quarter of school age children do not attend primary school, and two thirds of rural children aged 12-23 months are not fully immunised.

Meanwhile, women not only lack assets, opportunities, and a social safety net, but are bound by traditions and practices that affect their welfare and sometimes make it difficult for them to attend schools and clinics. The maternal mortality ratio has remained very high due to lack of family planning services despite high demand, and lack of midwives and emergency obstetric care. Malnutrition is a major public health problem affecting both women and children.

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