According to a press statement issued by the Economic Affairs Division, the EU Ambassador to Pakistan, Ms. Riina Kionka, and the Secretary of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Dr. Kazim Niaz, signed five new EU grant agreements. These agreements are part of Team Europe’s response to the 2022 post-flood Resilient Recovery, Rehabilitation, and Reconstruction Framework, with a commitment of nearly EUR 100 million (equivalent to over PKR 30 billion).
The new EU support package aims to strengthen Pakistan’s resilience in the aftermath of the floods, with a total Team Europe response to the 2022 floods of over EUR 930 million. Specific focus areas include revitalizing the rural economy in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and restoring the disrupted livestock value chains in flood-affected Balochistan.
These activities align with the EU Global Gateway initiative and extend their impact by fortifying Pakistan’s long-term resilience through targeted investments in human rights, gender equality, and civil society. Dr. Kazim Niaz thanked the EU for their support and emphasized the unmet needs in the flood-affected areas that require assistance from development partners.
European Union Ambassador Dr. Riina Kionka stated that Pakistan was not alone in overcoming its challenging phase of economic crisis and flood recovery. She added, “The EU and Team Europe partners are committed to building back better, sustainably improving lives in the most affected communities in KP and Balochistan.”
The EU’s commitment to Pakistan encompasses a vision of a stable, democratic, and pluralistic country that respects human rights and maximizes its economic potential. The European Union annually provides approximately EUR 90 million in grants for development and cooperation, supporting Pakistan’s initiatives to combat poverty, enhance education, promote good governance, human rights, and the rule of law, and ensure sustainable natural resource management. The union’s cooperation spans across all of Pakistan, with a special focus on Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit Baltistan, Balochistan, and Sindh.