WB approves $236mn for Pakistan’s education, healthcare sector

The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors approved $236 million in grants and credits to support Pakistan’s efforts to enhance learning and healthcare, and address COVID-19 threats to human capital accumulation.

The $200mn grant for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Human Capital Investment Project and the $36mn grant for Balochistan Human Capital Investment Project will be utilized in improving public services in education and health.

“Education and healthcare are at the heart of Pakistan’s vision for inclusive growth to enable its people to reach their greatest potential,” said Illango Patchamuthu, World Bank Country Director for Pakistan.

“Human capital is about investing early in children and families. The COVID-19 pandemic threatens to roll back human capital accumulation in Pakistan and decisive actions are needed now to reduce losses through targeted interventions supported by the two projects,” he said.

The WB stated that in KP, the project will reach 25 percent of the population and help the government increase the availability, utilization and quality of healthcare services in areas most affected by the pandemic.

“Investments in education and health services are crucial to strengthen Pakistan’s most important asset, its people,” said Cristina Panasco Santos, Task Team Leader for the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Human Capital Investment Project. “The project will help address persistent human capital deficits that limit current and future economic development in the province.”

In Balochistan, the project will support the government to improve service delivery by upgrading schools and health facilities in four districts, increase accountability of service providers by strengthening community engagement, and improve efficiencies in service delivery systems.

“Improvements in health and education services, especially in early childhood, have large payoffs for children and their families, by improving livelihoods and future opportunities to generate wealth,” said Yi-Kyoung Lee, Task Team Leader for the Balochistan Human Capital Investment Project. “The project serves as a model through synergistic interventions in education and health to bolster human capital accumulation in Balochistan.”

Both projects are financed from the IDA18 regional sub-window for host communities and refugees.