World Bank warns Pakistan over Balochistan housing funds

The World Bank Group has expressed serious concern over Pakistan's decision to redirect funds from a multi-billion-rupee resilient housing programme for flood-affected families in Pakistan — Balochistan towards infrastructure projects. The bank warned that this move could deepen poverty and increase disaster-related vulnerabilities among the affected population. According to the World Bank Group, 84% of eligible beneficiaries are ultra-poor and vulnerable, with many earning less than $70 per month. The decision to cap housing support at 62,966 first-tranche beneficiaries and subsidy assistance to 97,000 households has left 119,049 verified and eligible households without identified financing support. The World Bank Group's Country Director, Bolormaa Amgaabazar, raised concerns following meetings with Pakistan's federal planning minister and other officials. She also noted that 66,120 exclusion-related grievances had been registered and called for individual notification to all complainants and a credible grievance resolution process. The bank warned that excluded families could be pushed into a cycle of deeper poverty and rising disaster risks, potentially undermining the broader objectives of the housing reconstruction project.