Islamabad, 19th September 2019
National Disaster Risk Management Fund (NDRMF) signed four (04) Grant Implementation Agreements with the Government of Punjab, for extending grant financing up to PKR 881.626 Million for their four projects related to Flood Protection titled (i) Rehabilitation of Old Deg Nullah from Deg Diversion Channel to Q.B Link Canal, (ii) Rehabilitation/Restoration of Jalala Flood Protection Bund, (iii) Rehabilitation/Restoration of Hajipur Gujran Flood Protection Bund, and (iv) Protection of Village abadies Shahpur Chanjora, Fatehpur Gujran and Sukho Chak against the Erosive Action of Bein Nullah in District Narowal. The agreements’ signing ceremony was held at NDRMF Office at Islamabad on Thursday 19th September 2019.
The Tripartite Grant Implementation Agreements were signed by Mr. Khurram Khaliq Khan General Manager, Projects & Operations Group, NDRMF, Mr. Ghulam Rasool, Chief Engineer, Drainage and Flood, Irrigation Department, Government of Punjab and Dr. Muhammad Abid Bodla, Member Water / ID, Planning & Development Department, Government of Punjab.
Lt. Gen (R) Nadeem Ahmed, Chief Executive Officer, NDRMF and Capt. (R) Saif Anjum, Secretary, Irrigation Department, Government of Punjab also graced the signing ceremony. The projects are designed to augment the protection and enhancing resilience of communities which are vulnerable to the negative impacts of flooding.
The total cost of the agreed projects is PKR 1259.466 Million out of which NDRMF shall finance 70%, amounting to PKR 881.626 Million whereas, the remaining 30% contribution amounting to PKR 377.840 Million, shall be made available by the Government of Punjab from its Annual Development Budget.
The duration of the projects is ranging from 19 to 23 months. Under the projects, various interventions including raising and strengthening of bund and spurs, construction of ramps, stone pitching, and other structural measures, shall be carried out. The proposed interventions are in line with the National Flood Protection Plan (NFPP-IV).
The projects are anticipated to protect 121,000 vulnerable people (11,500 for Bein Nullah project, 50,000 for Hajipur Gujran, 49,500 for Deg diversion channel, 10,000 for Jalala flood protection Bund), and protect approximately 25,000 Hectares of agricultural land (3,000 Ha Bein Nullah project, 6,475 Ha for Hajipur Gujran, 12,900 Ha for Deg Diversion Channel, 2,833 Ha for Jalala Flood Bund) against the negative impacts of flooding by reinforcing and strengthening the embankments of flood channels/Nullahs.
Earlier, NDRMF has also partnered with National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS), Islamic Relief Pakistan (IRP) and Joint Venture of Agha Khan Foundation (AKF) & Aga Khan Planning & Building Services, for extending grant financing to their projects which are focusing on disaster risk reduction and preparedness. NDRMF is committed to reducing the socioeconomic and fiscal vulnerability of the country & its population to natural hazards and climate change, through financing investments in disaster risk reduction and preparedness that have high economic impacts.
All projects, which NDRMF is grant financing, have undergone through a merit-based and transparent process of selection in accordance with a pre-set criteria, while promoting gender equality, along with ensuring environmental and social safeguards. NDRMF has also put in place a strong monitoring framework to ensure that all the funded projects are implemented in an effective and transparent manner, thereby reducing disaster risks and protecting the local population from disasters.
