ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has so far received $738.530 million of foreign financial assistance i.e. around 22 percent against the total commitment of $3.4 billion from multilateral and bilateral partners to support flood relief activities in the country.
The in-kind support extended to the country by development partners was in addition to $738.530 million.
This information was provided to the Senate Standing Committee on Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives, which convened here on Thursday and was presided over by Attaur Rehman, during data sharing.
The Post-Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA), which estimated the damage of the floods at $32 billion to the country, notified the committee that Pakistan needed at least $16 billion right away for post-flood rehabilitation and reconstruction.
The development partners have extended financial and in-kind foreign assistance to Pakistan for flood relief activities including grant (repurposed – $166.547 million and new – $268.49 million) and loans (repurposed – $365 million and new – $2.475 million).
On August 30, 2022, the United Nations, in collaboration with the government of Pakistan, issued a $ 160.3 million flash appeal. As of September 15, 2022, $ 148 million has been committed by humanitarian pledges.
However, the amended plea, which is an increase of $656 million from the initial appeal of $ 160 million, urgently requests $816 million to address the people’s escalating need for life-saving assistance.
The official told the committee that the Ministry of Economic Affairs has the mandate to coordinate, negotiate and arrange foreign assistance. The district-wise utilization of foreign assistance/aid is the mandate of the provincial governments, PDMAs, and NDMA. It was highlighted that the World Bank was itself monitoring the whole process and has recommended private experts to overlook the process.
