World Bank expresses concerns over the Balochistan flood project

The World Bank has described the implementation progress of Balochistan’s $245 million Integrated Flood Resilience and Adaptation Project (IFRAP) as “moderately unsatisfactory”. According to the bank, the extent of housing assistance, financial gaps and administrative issues are affecting the pace of the project.

Housing assistance hampered

According to the World Bank, more than 74,000 households have received the first tranche of housing assistance. However, issues related to limiting the number of beneficiaries, financial resources for the remaining families and grievance redressal remain.

Progress in infrastructure

The planning and procurement process has progressed in the irrigation, roads and bridges part of the project. However, three key development targets of this component have not yet been achieved.

Early warning system

The appointment of a new officer in the field of meteorological and hydrometeorological services and the contract for automatic weather stations are signs of progress. However, some key procurement and deployment of system integrators are pending.

Management issues also persist

The World Bank review also identified delays in the revised Project Implementation Manual. Several annual work plans for the fiscal year 2026-27 have also not been submitted yet.

Government’s position

As per the Ministry of Planning, the government is in constant touch with the World Bank. The ministry said that the project is being taken forward under the approved methodology, prioritising the needs of the citizens of Balochistan.

The World Bank will reassess the performance of the project in the next review mission. Housing assistance, financial resources and pending administrative measures will be important in the next review.

The rating of the project in the next review will depend on housing assistance, financial resources and pending administrative measures, while possible decisions may have an impact on the affected families and the future trajectory of the project.