ISLAMABAD: National Disaster Risk Management Fund (NDRMF) signed a Tripartite Grant Implementation Agreement with the Government of Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK), for extending grant financing up to PKR 432.56 Million for their project related to landslide risks mitigation in different districts of Poonch Division.
The agreement signing ceremony was held at NDRMF Office at Islamabad on Monday 23rd December, 2019.
The Tripartite Grant Implementation Agreement was signed between Mr. Khurram Khaliq Khan General Manager, Projects & Operations Group, NDRMF, Mr. Ghulam Bashir Mughal, Secretary Communication and Works (C&W) Department, Government of AJK, and Dr. Syed Asif Hussain, Additional Chief Secretary, Planning and Development (P&D) Department, Government of AJK.
The Project is designed to mitigate landslide risks that exists on major roads of AJK in different districts of Poonch Division besides providing an uninterrupted flow of traffic, a safe journey to users and strengthening tourism activities in AJK.
The duration of the project is 22 months in which various interventions shall be carried out including; decrease vulnerabilities to the negative impacts of landslides, secure land (agriculture/non-agriculture), sustain communication between adjoining and forward areas, access for availing services, food transport and livelihood for income generation purposes, secure government and private properties, including land & machinery and forests from hazards of land sliding.
The total cost of the Project is PKR 619.91 million out of which NDRMF will finance 69.77% up to PKR 432.56 million whereas AJK’s 30.23% contribution shall be PKR 187.36 million. The project will protect 331,563 individuals vulnerable to the negative impacts of landslides and also make them resilient.
In addition, 12.29 Hectares of land (agriculture/non-agriculture) will be stabilized. The proposed interventions are in line with National Disaster Management Plan (NDMP).
Earlier, NDRMF has also partnered with various Government and Non-Government entities for extending grant financing to their projects which are focusing on disaster risk reduction and preparedness.
NDRMF is committed for reducing the socio-economic 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.
Read more: BoDs NDRMF approve Rs4,924m grant for Disaster Risk Reduction Activities
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.
