G-B launches €54.24m climate resilience project

A newly launched €54.24 million project will expand access to clean water, renewable energy and climate-resilient infrastructure across the remote mountainous regions of Gilgit-Baltistan, benefiting more than 325,600 residents. The Gilgit-Baltistan Rural Development and Climate Resilience Project was formally launched at the Chief Minister Secretariat in Gilgit by the Government of Gilgit-Baltistan, the European Union, Agence Française de Développement (AFD) and the Aga Khan Foundation. The agreement was signed between the parties in presence of the Raimundas Karoblis Ambassador of the European Union to Pakistan and Chief Minister Gilgit-Baltistan Amjad Hussain Advocate. The project will include 216 water-supply and sanitation schemes, climate vulnerability assessments in all 110 union councils, and micro-hydropower and other clean-energy systems with an expected generation capacity of between 1.2 and 1.3 megawatts. It will also support the green retrofitting of 3,000 existing homes and the construction of 700 climate-resilient and energy-efficient houses. Communities and public institutions will receive training in climate-responsive planning, enterprise development and sustainable infrastructure management. Speaking at the launch European Union Ambassador to Pakistan described the launch as an important milestone in the shared commitment to a sustainable and climate-resilient future for Gilgit-Baltistan. He reaffirmed the European Union and its European partners' support for translating the project into practical improvements in the lives of local communities and supporting an inclusive transition towards a greener economy. The project will be implemented through Aga Khan Rural Support Programme (AKRSP) and other agencies of the Aga Khan Development Network, drawing on their experience in community-led integrated development. EU Ambassador Raimundas Karoblis assured the European Union's continued support for climate resilience and sustainable development in Gilgit-Baltistan.