ADB Approves $381 Million for Punjab Agriculture, Education, and Health Programs

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved three development projects worth $381 million to boost agriculture, education, and health services in Punjab, aiming to drive economic growth in the country’s most populous and productive province.

“Investing in education, health, and agricultural mechanisation will play a transformative role in driving the growth of Punjab, a vital pillar of Pakistan’s economy,” ADB Country Director for Pakistan

Punjab, producing 75% of wheat, 69% of rice, and 91% of maize in Pakistan, faces challenges due to outdated farming machinery and crop residue burning. To tackle this, ADB has allocated $120 million in loans and $4 million in grants to the Punjab Climate Resilient and Low Carbon Agriculture Mechanisation Project, benefiting 220,000 rural farm households. The project will introduce modern machinery such as rice harvesters, aiming to reduce grain losses and improve environmental sustainability.

ADB has earmarked $107 million for the Responsive, Ready, and Resilient STEM Secondary Education Program, including a $7 million grant. The initiative will modernise secondary education in Punjab, enhancing Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education and improving access to quality learning for students across the province.

To address the shortage of qualified nurses, ADB approved $150 million for the Punjab Nursing and Health Workforce Reform Program. The project will upgrade nursing curricula, expand faculty development, and implement a digital HR management system. Three centres of excellence will be established in Lahore, Multan, and Rawalpindi, equipped with state of the art simulation labs, digital learning platforms, and gender responsive hostels, enhancing healthcare delivery and employment opportunities.