A €54.24 million (Rs17.2 billion) project has been launched in Gilgit-Baltistan to strengthen climate resilience, improve basic services and enhance living conditions across the region.
The Gilgit-Baltistan Rural Development and Climate Resilience project will focus on climate-resilient infrastructure, basic services, renewable energy and institutional development. The initiative will be implemented across all districts of the region.
The project includes 216 water and sanitation schemes, comprising 117 drinking-water supply projects and 30 sanitation schemes.
Hydropower initiatives under the project are expected to generate between 1,200 and 1,300 kilowatts of clean energy. Vulnerability assessments will also be conducted across all 110 union councils, while 3,000 households will undergo green retrofitting.
Another 700 households will receive support for energy-efficient and climate-resilient construction. Training programmes will cover climate-smart planning, enterprise development and sustainable infrastructure management.
The project is expected to benefit around 43,200 households, or approximately 325,600 people, with women making up at least 40% of the beneficiaries.
Officials said the initiative is aimed at promoting sustainable development and strengthening communities against the impacts of climate change, particularly in remote areas.
An Energy Master Plan for Gilgit-Baltistan was also presented during the launch. The 30-year roadmap aims to develop a reliable, affordable and climate-resilient energy system while addressing the region’s electricity shortfall and expanding the use of renewable energy.
The plan also focuses on improving energy infrastructure and making greater use of the region’s renewable-energy potential.
The project is expected to strengthen basic services and institutional capacity while supporting community-driven development across Gilgit-Baltistan.
