Govt, EU ink new deals to back post-flood response
ISLAMABAD: The European Union has fulfilled its pledge of an additional grant assistance of 100 million euros (Rs30 billion) to enhance the post-flood resilience in Pakistan.
EU Ambassador Dr Riina Kionka and Economic Affairs Division (EAD) Secretary Kazim Niaz signed five new grant agreements in Islamabad on Monday.
These agreements, under Team Europe’s response to the 2022 post-flood Resilient Recovery, Rehabilitation, and Reconstruction Framework, signify a substantial commitment of the European Union towards Pakistan.
The new EU support package aims to fortify Pakistan’s resilience in the aftermath of the floods, bringing the total Team Europe response to the 2022 floods to over 930 million euros.
The specific focus areas include revitalising the rural economy in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and restoring the disrupted livestock value chains in flood-affected areas of Balochistan. Notably, these activities align with the expansive EU Global Gateway initiative, the largest EU investment programme designed to propel the global green transition.
Moreover, the package extends its impact by fortifying Pakistan’s long-term resilience through targeted investments in human rights, gender equality, and civil society.
The EAD secretary thanked the EU for its support, emphasising that there are unmet needs in the flood-affected areas that require assistance of development partners.
Dr Kionka stated that Pakistan is not alone in overcoming its challenging phase of economic crisis and flood recovery.
“The EU and Team Europe partners are committed to building back better, sustainably improving lives in the most affected communities in KP and Balochistan.”
The EU’s commitment to Pakistan encompasses a vision of a stable, democratic, and pluralistic country that respects rights and maximizes its economic potential, she added.
The EU annually provides approximately 90 million euros in grants for development and cooperation, supporting Pakistan’s initiatives to combat poverty, enhance education, promote good governance, human rights, rule of law, and ensure sustainable natural resource management.
The EU’s cooperation spans across all of Pakistan, with a special focus on KP, Gilgit-Baltistan, Balochistan and Sindh.
Published in Dawn, January 30th, 2024