Balochistan flood rehabilitation project restructured by Pakistan government

The Pakistani government has restructured the Rs115 billion World Bank-funded Integrated Flood Resilience & Adaptation Project (IFRAP), a move that has significantly reduced housing assistance for flood-affected families in Balochistan. The Project Steering Committee, led by Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal and Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti, decided to cap the $155 million housing component at approximately 69,000 homes, redirecting remaining funds toward roads and irrigation.

This restructuring follows investigations into alleged record tampering, duplicate claims, and misreporting of completed houses. The World Bank has subsequently declined to provide an additional $180 million in financing that was intended to extend reconstruction to the remaining families.

The World Bank has warned that this decision could deepen poverty and increase disaster risks for the excluded population. Reports indicate that over 134,000 verified families were originally surveyed for assistance, leaving many without identified financing. The bank noted that 84 percent of eligible beneficiaries are classified as ultra-poor, and excluding them may force vulnerable households to divert income from food and healthcare to address shelter needs.