The emergency project was prepared in response to the Government of Pakistan's request to the Asian Development Bank (ADB) on 25 March 2020 for assistance in managing the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Pakistan. The project will provide (i) immediate financing to help the government deal with the crisis quickly and flexibly by strengthening its public health preparedness and responsiveness; and (ii) a social protection component for quick financial support to help meet the basic needs of vulnerable and poor segments of society and to stimulate the domestic economy. The project is part of ADB's response of supporting developing member countries in their fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
| Project Name | Emergency Assistance for Fighting the COVID-19 Pandemic | ||||||||
| Project Number | 54181-001 | ||||||||
| Country | Pakistan |
||||||||
| Project Status | Active | ||||||||
| Project Type / Modality of Assistance | Grant Loan |
||||||||
| Source of Funding / Amount |
|
||||||||
| Strategic Agendas | Environmentally sustainable growth Inclusive economic growth Regional integration |
||||||||
| Drivers of Change | Gender Equity and Mainstreaming Governance and capacity development Partnerships |
||||||||
| Sector / Subsector |
Health / Disease control of communicable disease Public sector management / Social protection initiatives |
||||||||
| Gender Equity and Mainstreaming | Effective gender mainstreaming | ||||||||
| Description | The emergency project was prepared in response to the Government of Pakistan's request to the Asian Development Bank (ADB) on 25 March 2020 for assistance in managing the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Pakistan. The project will provide (i) immediate financing to help the government deal with the crisis quickly and flexibly by strengthening its public health preparedness and responsiveness; and (ii) a social protection component for quick financial support to help meet the basic needs of vulnerable and poor segments of society and to stimulate the domestic economy. The project is part of ADB's response of supporting developing member countries in their fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. | ||||||||
| Project Rationale and Linkage to Country/Regional Strategy | The World Health Organization declared the COVID-19 outbreak a public health emergency of international concern on 30 January 2020 and a pandemic on 11 March 2020. Pakistan is highly susceptible to the spread of COVID-19 given that it borders the Islamic Republic of Iran and the People's Republic of China, which were among the initial countries experiencing the COVID-19 epidemic. Pakistan also has large numbers of returning migrant workers, an overcrowded public transportation system, an underfinanced and weak health system, and densely populated urban and peri-urban settlements. Its incidence of COVID-19 infections is quickly rising - from the first two cases and no deaths recorded on 26 February 2020 to 21,501 cases and 486 deaths by 5 May 2020. According to the projection in Pakistan Preparedness and Response Plan COVID-19, Pakistan is likely to experience about 200,000 positive cases, of which 80% are expected to be mild, 15% moderate to severe, and about 5% critical; critical cases will require ventilation and highly specialized support. This brings severe stress to the country's health infrastructure and administrative capacity. The impacts of the COVID-19 outbreak in Pakistan are likely to be significant in the short term because of a combination of containment and mitigation measures already in place and the related disruptions in production. Falling tax revenues, expenditures to manage the health and socioeconomic impacts of COVID-19, and a reduction in exports and remittances are expected to further widen the country's budget and current account deficits. The COVID-19 outbreak is expected to cause sharp declines in domestic demand, curb tourism and business travel, affect trade and production links, and cause supply disruptions. The magnitude of these economic impacts on production and employment will depend on how long restrictive policies such as social distancing and lockdowns are required. The International Monetary Fund projected a sharp decline in the GDP growth rate for Pakistan, from 3.3% in FY2019 to -1.5% in FY2020. |
||||||||
| Impact | Coping capacity of the country to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic and other public health emergencies improved by 2024 | ||||||||
| Project Outcome | |
|---|---|
| Description of Outcome | Adverse health and socio-economic impacts of the COVID-19 outbreak mitigated |
| Progress Toward Outcome | |
| Implementation Progress | |
| Description of Project Outputs | Public health emergency preparedness and response strengthened Social protection for poor and vulnerable women delivered |
| Status of Implementation Progress (Outputs, Activities, and Issues) | |
| Geographical Location | Nation-wide |
| Safeguard Categories | |
|---|---|
| Environment | B |
| Involuntary Resettlement | C |
| Indigenous Peoples | C |
| Summary of Environmental and Social Aspects | |
|---|---|
| Environmental Aspects | The project's public health emergency preparedness and response component is expected to substantially minimize occupational and community health and safety hazards. The executing agency for this component adopted an environmental and social management system satisfactory to ADB. |
| Involuntary Resettlement | The project will have no involuntary resettlement impact as defined by ADB's Safeguard Policy Statement (2009). |
| Indigenous Peoples | The project will have no indigenous peoples impact as defined by ADB's Safeguard Policy Statement (2009). |
| Stakeholder Communication, Participation, and Consultation | |
| During Project Design | |
| During Project Implementation | |
| Responsible ADB Officer | Wu, Zheng |
| Responsible ADB Department | Central and West Asia Department |
| Responsible ADB Division | Pakistan Resident Mission |
| Executing Agencies |
Benazir Income Support Program [email protected] F- Block, Pak Secretariat National Disaster Risk Management Fund Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority (ERRA) Headquarter Office Bldg Complex, Muree Islamabad, Pakistan |
| Timetable | |
|---|---|
| Concept Clearance | - |
| Fact Finding | 16 Apr 2020 to 27 Apr 2020 |
| MRM | 30 Apr 2020 |
| Approval | 19 May 2020 |
| Last Review Mission | - |
| Last PDS Update | 19 May 2020 |
Grant 0701-PAK
| Milestones | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Approval | Signing Date | Effectivity Date | Closing | ||
| Original | Revised | Actual | |||
| 19 May 2020 | 05 Jun 2020 | 23 Jun 2020 | 30 Nov 2022 | - | - |
| Financing Plan | Grant Utilization | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total (Amount in US$ million) | Date | ADB | Others | Net Percentage | |
| Project Cost | 5.28 | Cumulative Contract Awards | |||
| ADB | 0.00 | 19 May 2020 | 0.00 | 0.25 | 5% |
| Counterpart | 0.00 | Cumulative Disbursements | |||
| Cofinancing | 5.28 | 19 May 2020 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0% |
| Status of Covenants | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Category | Sector | Safeguards | Social | Financial | Economic | Others |
| Rating | - | - | - | Satisfactory | - | - |
Loan 3923-PAK
| Milestones | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Approval | Signing Date | Effectivity Date | Closing | ||
| Original | Revised | Actual | |||
| 19 May 2020 | 05 Jun 2020 | 23 Jun 2020 | 30 Nov 2022 | - | - |
| Financing Plan | Loan Utilization | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total (Amount in US$ million) | Date | ADB | Others | Net Percentage | |
| Project Cost | 306.52 | Cumulative Contract Awards | |||
| ADB | 300.00 | 19 May 2020 | 79.23 | 0.00 | 26% |
| Counterpart | 6.52 | Cumulative Disbursements | |||
| Cofinancing | 0.00 | 19 May 2020 | 198.18 | 0.00 | 66% |
| Status of Covenants | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Category | Sector | Safeguards | Social | Financial | Economic | Others |
| Rating | - | - | - | Satisfactory | - | - |
Project Data Sheets (PDS) contain summary information on the project or program. Because the PDS is a work in progress, some information may not be included in its initial version but will be added as it becomes available. Information about proposed projects is tentative and indicative.
The Access to Information Policy (AIP) recognizes that transparency and accountability are essential to development effectiveness. It establishes the disclosure requirements for documents and information ADB produces or requires to be produced.
The Accountability Mechanism provides a forum where people adversely affected by ADB-assisted projects can voice and seek solutions to their problems and report alleged noncompliance of ADB's operational policies and procedures.
In preparing any country program or strategy, financing any project, or by making any designation of, or reference to, a particular territory or geographic area in this document, the Asian Development Bank does not intend to make any judgments as to the legal or other status of any territory or area.
Safeguard Documents See also: Safeguards
Safeguard documents provided at the time of project/facility approval may also be found in the list of linked documents provided with the Report and Recommendation of the President.
| Title | Document Type | Document Date |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency Assistance for Fighting the COVID-19 Pandemic: Environmental Assessment and Review Framework | Environmental Assessment and Review Framework | Apr 2020 |
Evaluation Documents See also: Independent Evaluation
None currently available.
Related Publications
None currently available.
The Access to Information Policy (AIP) establishes the disclosure requirements for documents and information ADB produces or requires to be produced in its operations to facilitate stakeholder participation in ADB's decision-making. For more information, refer to the Safeguard Policy Statement, Operations Manual F1, and Operations Manual L3.
Requests for information may also be directed to the InfoUnit.
Tenders
No tenders for this project were found.
Contracts Awarded
| Contract Title | Approval Number | Contract Date | Contractor | Contractor Address | Executing Agency | Contract Description | Total Contract Amount (US$) | Contract Amount Financed by ADB (US$) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ONE TIME CASH TRANSFER TO BISP WOMEN BENEFICIARIES | Loan 3923 | 08 Jul 2020 | BISP | ISLAMABAD PAKISTAN | Benazir Income Support Program | OTHERS | 79,234,926.76 | 79,234,926.76 |
Procurement Plan
| Title | Document Type | Document Date |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency Assistance for Fighting the COVID-19 Pandemic: Procurement Plan | Procurement Plans | May 2020 |