WASHINGTON (World Bank press service) — Sustainable water management is a priority for Balochistan and the World Bank is strongly committed to working with its government to develop this critical resource for the people of the province.

This was the objective when the Balochistan Integrated Water Resource Management and Development Project was signed three years ago. Unfortunately, there has since then been a lack of progress in managing the project, disbursing funds, proceeding with the civil works, and fiduciary control. As a result, the World Bank has today suspended the project and offered to work with the Government of Balochistan over the next thirty days to restructure the scope and governance arrangements to more realistically begin to deliver sustainable water management to the province.

The overall World Bank portfolio in Pakistan has 40 projects with a commitment of $7.42 bln including investments of over $3 bln in water management, hydropower and irrigated agriculture. The World Bank declares to be committed to work with the Pakistani Government on implementing the wider program of support for Balochistan. The World Bank currently has commitments of more than $250 mln in the province, with the main investments in education, health, governance and water.