Islamabad: The Gilgit-Baltistan government, the French development agency AFD, the European Union and the Aga Khan Foundation have launched a EUR54.24 million, or about Rs17.2 billion, programme to improve water, sanitation, renewable energy and climate resilience services across the mountainous region, the Aga Khan Foundation said on Thursday.
The project is financed through AFD support, a European Union grant, Aga Khan Foundation funding and community contributions. It will cover all districts of Gilgit-Baltistan and is expected to benefit around 43,200 households, or 325,600 people, with women comprising at least 40 percent of the beneficiaries.
According to the project partners, planned interventions include 117 drinking-water schemes and 30 sanitation projects, including sewerage networks and wastewater-treatment facilities; generation of 1,200 to 1,300 kilowatts of clean hydropower; climate-vulnerability assessments in all 110 union councils; retrofitting of 3,000 homes; and construction of 700 climate-resilient, energy-efficient houses.
Chief Minister Amjad Hussain Azar said the initiative should be judged by its practical impact on people’s lives, including safe water, sanitation, electricity for remote villages, resilient housing and employment opportunities for young people.
He said the Gilgit-Baltistan government was also working on solarising public buildings and developing a regional grid to address the area’s energy shortage.
European Union Ambassador to Pakistan Raimundas Karoblis said Team Europe remained committed to supporting a sustainable and resilient future for Gilgit-Baltistan through climate action and inclusive growth, alongside the Gilgit-Baltistan government and the Aga Khan Foundation.
AFD Pakistan Country Director Marc-Antoine Leclercq said AFD had a long-standing partnership with the Aga Khan Foundation and believed the project would improve basic services while strengthening the government’s capacity to implement community-driven approaches in remote areas.
The ceremony also featured the presentation of the Gilgit-Baltistan Energy Master Plan by Northern Pakistan Energy Limited.
Prepared as a 30-year roadmap under the EU-funded Energy Plus project, the plan proposes a more reliable, affordable and climate-resilient energy system for Gilgit-Baltistan and seeks to harness the region’s renewable-energy potential.
AKF Pakistan CEO Akhtar Iqbal said the project reflected the foundation’s commitment to supporting mountain communities through climate-resilient infrastructure, renewable energy, stronger local institutions and inclusive economic opportunities.
“We highly appreciate the longstanding support of the EU and AFD in helping communities build a more resilient, sustainable and prosperous future,” he said.
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