Germany is providing funds to the tune of 4 million euro to help with the supply of drinking water in the Pakistan province of Balochistan. The aim of the programme initiated by Federal Foreign Office is to finance measures that quickly improve access to drinking water, such as deep wells, pumping stations, water containers and standpipes. The local population plays a major role in choosing and carrying out the individual projects. In this way living conditions for people in the crisis-stricken region can be improved substantially and a breeding ground for extremism withered in the process.

Balochistan is Pakistan’s poorest province. It plays an important role in stabilizing the region within the geographical triangle of Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran.

KfW coordinates the project’s implementation in close cooperation with the Pakistan non governmental organization Balochistan Rural Support Programme. The first projects are due to be completed by the middle of 2010.

Financing the drinking water projects is part of Germany’s comprehensive commitment to Pakistan. A sum of around 120 million euro has been earmarked for 2009/2010 for development aid alone. The Prime Minister of Pakistan Yusuf Raza Gilani is currently visiting Germany. Yesterday evening he met with Federal Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle.