Pakistan: Punjab Arterial Roads Improvement Project

OBJECTIVE

To improve east-west connectivity in southern Punjab with road safety, climate-resilient, and sustainable road maintenance features.

DESCRIPTION

The Project is co-financed with Asian Development Bank (ADB) and will have the following two components.

Component A. Improvement of Punjab Provincial Highways

A.1 Dualization of 535km of provincial highways in southern Punjab with road safety and climate resilient features

A.2 Construction Supervision

Component B. Strengthening Institutional Capacity of Communication and Works Department (C&WD)

B.1 Capacity Building of C&WD

B.2 Strengthening of Road Asset Management

B.3 Road Safety Improvements

ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL INFORMATION

Since ADB will be the lead co-financier, the Project’s ES risks and impacts have been assessed in accordance with the ADB’s Safeguard Policy Statement (SPS) 2009. To ensure a harmonized approach to addressing the ES risks and impacts of the Project, and as permitted under AIIB’s ESP, ADB’s SPS will apply to the Project in lieu of AIIB’s ESP. AIIB has reviewed the ADB’s SPS and is satisfied that: (i) it is consistent with AIIB’s Articles of Agreement and materially consistent with the provisions of AIIB’s ESP and the relevant ES Standards (ESS), and (ii) the monitoring procedures that are in place are appropriate for the Project. Under ADB’s Safeguard Policy, ADB has categorized the ES risks of the Project as Category B for Environment, Category A for Involuntary resettlement and Category C for Indigenous Peoples, which is equivalent to Category A if AIIB’s ESP were applicable. In addition, an Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) for each road section was prepared.

Construction-related environmental impacts can be largely mitigated through appropriate construction practices accompanied by site-specific mitigation measures. Other adverse impacts of the Project will be temporary and reversible in nature, during the construction phase. Such temporary impacts pertain to air and water pollution, noise, and disposal of construction wastes, which have been addressed in the IEEs. Out of the total 16 lots for civil works, land acquisition is required for 5 lots while moderate non-land resettlement impacts are expected for the remaining 11 lots due to losses of structures, trees and crops located in the existing rights of way. Draft resettlement planning instruments have been prepared for all 16 lots, consisting of five Land Acquisition and Resettlement Plans (LARPs) for those lots requiring land acquisition and 11 Resettlement Plans (RPs) for the remaining lots to address non-land impacts. An independent valuation study will be undertaken prior to LARP/RP implementation and compensation rates adjusted as needed to ensure that compensation is at full replacement cost. A multi-tier Project Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM) will be established in accordance with the requirements of ADB’s SPS.

The ES documentation in English, and summary in local language, as appropriate, will be disclosed by the Client on its website and in hard copies in the Project areas. This draft documentation has also been disclosed on ADB website, and AIIB’s website will include links to the documentation on the Client’s website and ADB’s website.