Pakistan : Balochistan Water Resources Development Project

Project Name

Balochistan Water Resources Development Project

Project Number

48098-001

Country / Economy

• Pakistan

Project Status

Closed

Project Type / Modality of Assistance

• Technical Assistance

Source of Funding / Amount

Strategic Agendas

• Environmentally sustainable growth
• Inclusive economic growth

Drivers of Change

• Gender Equity and Mainstreaming
• Governance and capacity development
• Knowledge solutions
• Partnerships

Sector / Subsector

• Agriculture, natural resources and rural development / Irrigation - Rural flood protection - Water-based natural resources management

Gender

Some gender elements

Description

The proposed Balochistan Water Resources Development Project is located across six districts in Balochistan in the Zhob, Kacchi plain, Dasht and Hingol river basins. The project will improve land and water resources, agricultural production and farm income of 10,000 rural households by (i) bringing 10,000 ha of new land under cultivation; (ii) improving 20,000 ha of irrigated land; and (iii) protecting 1,500 ha of watersheds. The project will (a) construct new small dams and flood irrigation (spate) systems; (b) improve 300 km of canals, drains, and karezes (subsurface water channels); (c) develop a satellite-based water information system; and (d) build capacity of the local communities, the Irrigation and Power Department (IPD), and the Agriculture and Cooperative Department (ACD).

The project impact will be the increased farm income in the project area. The project outcome will be the increased agricultural production. The project outputs will be (i) improved land and water resource management; (ii) participating communities have better access to water for domestic uses; and (iii) improved capacity of the communities, IPD, and ACD in water management.

The main project components include works ($92 million), capacity building ($12 million), and project management ($11 million).

Project Rationale and Linkage to Country/Regional Strategy

Pakistan has to increase food production by 40-50% to meet the needs of a projected population of 221 million by 2025. ADB's interim country partnership strategy (2014-2015) emphasizes revitalizing agriculture for food security and poverty alleviation. ADB's midterm review of Strategy 2020 recognizes infrastructure and agriculture as the main focus area and proposes a 10-point program on ADB strategic directions in 2014-2020. The country assistance program evaluation, 20022012 assessed Pakistan's agriculture and natural resource sector less than successful, but it evaluated the program relevant in terms of its alignment with government and ADB strategies, and satisfactory for its strategic positioning. The evaluation is viewed as appropriate in ADB's commitment to support Pakistan in responding to the need to rehabilitate and expand the irrigation system.

Of the 13 million Balochistan population, over 70% live in rural areas and depend on agriculture for their livelihood. Agriculture accounts about two-third of the provincial domestic product, 60% of the labor force, and supports several industries by providing raw materials. However, the agricultural sector suffers from water shortage, frequent drought, and poor agricultural practices, which expose the rural communities to high vulnerability especially women and children who suffer from inadequate domestic water supply. The Balochistan Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper emphasizes the need to expand cropped area, rehabilitate agricultural infrastructure, and reduce vulnerability to drought.

Balochistan's water resources comprise groundwater (4%), water share from Indus Basin (39%), and floodwater (57%). The groundwater is over-exploited and requires a comprehensive reassessment. Balochistan's Indus water share remains underutilized and needs appropriate policy for optimum benefits. Floodwater has further development potential with only 40% of the floodwater resources being utilized and 60% flowing down to the sea. The perennial irrigation (including canals and drains) is seriously deteriorated and requires rehabilitation.

The Balochistan Comprehensive Development Strategy (2013-2020) identifies gaps, sets priorities and associated plans to improve key sectors including agriculture and water resources. The BCDS recognizes (i) increasing water supply and reducing the demand gap, (ii) water logging and salinity, (iii) low irrigation efficiencies, (iv) groundwater mining, (v) neglected spate irrigation farming, and (vi) seawater intrusion in the coastal areas as the main agricultural development constraint. The strategy emphasizes (i) basin water management, (ii) promoting high water use efficiency, (iii) strengthening water management research, (iv) creating Balochistan Water Resources Management Authority (BWRMA), and (v) an investment requirement of PRs68,333 (equivalent $650 million) for the water sector for the strategy period. Sustainable water management in Balochistan's 14 main river basins is a key to increase food production and economic growth. A $300 million World Bank project is already helping the Government in water management in three river basins. Balochistan's integrated water resource management (IWRM) approach identifies 16 areas for improvement including water conservation and better use of surface water resources.

A sector loan is proposed to assist the Government to (i) establish the BWRMA, (ii) adopt an approved BCDS, (iii) operationalize an IWRM approach, and (iv) improve water related infrastructure. Balochistan has a draft BCDS and sector development plan. The Government intended to improve sector policy, institutional and regulatory framework, and sector investment. The proposed project will follow a river basin approach, where policy, institutional, and infrastructural improvements are important. Pakistan has experience in implementing several ADB financed projects in the sector. The IPD has been implementing an ongoing World Bank project. The four river basins will be studied and prioritized following criteria for high development potential, low security risk and return on investment, and feasible subprojects will be developed. The World Bank and International Fund for Agricultural Development were consulted.

Impact

Project Outcome

Description of Outcome

Progress Toward Outcome

Implementation Progress

Description of Project Outputs

Status of Implementation Progress (Outputs, Activities, and Issues)

Geographical Location

Summary of Environmental and Social Aspects

Environmental Aspects

Involuntary Resettlement

Indigenous Peoples

Stakeholder Communication, Participation, and Consultation

During Project Design

The main stakeholders are local communities, farming families, and households. In addition, families involved in agro-based small industries will also be beneficiaries. Stakeholders will participate through i) community consultations; ii) project awareness campaigns; iii) grievance redress committees; iv) project displaced person committee; and v) engagement of local people in project related jobs, where preference will be given to displaced persons and in particular to vulnerable people. Consultations will be carried out during project preparation with (i) the communities in the command and watershed areas and nearby villages; (ii) affected persons who may lose part of their land and/or livelihood; and (iii) relevant government departments. Poor and vulnerable households will be identified and their participation actively sought.

During Project Implementation

The stakeholders identified at design stage will be involved through community participation in activities of their relevance. The relevant communities will be part of implementation through progress monitoring and consultation.

Business Opportunities

Consulting Services

The consulting service shall be provided through national consulting firm and international and national individual consultants. The PPTA will provide 4 person-months of international and 117 person-months of national experts. The consultants will be recruited in accordance with ADB's Guidelines on the Use of Consultants (2013, as amended from time to time). The consultancy firm will be selected through quality- and cost-based selection (QCBS) method (90:10). A full technical proposal will be requested from the shortlisted firms. The individual consultants will be recruited in accordance with ADB's Consulting Guidelines.

Contact

Responsible ADB Officer

Zhou, Yaozhou

Responsible ADB Department

Central and West Asia Department

Responsible ADB Division

Environment, Natural Resources & Agriculture Division, CWRD

Executing Agencies

Irrigation Department, Government of Balochistan

Timetable

Concept Clearance

-

Fact Finding

-

MRM

-

Approval

15 Dec 2014

Last Review Mission

-

Last PDS Update

14 Sep 2018

Funding