Aga Khan Foundation Pakistan, in partnership with Bank Alfalah, has launched a PKR 66 million flood-rehabilitation initiative aimed at restoring critical infrastructure and strengthening climate resilience in flood-affected communities across Gilgit-Baltistan.
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The programme, implemented in collaboration with Aga Khan Agency for Habitat, Focus Humanitarian Assistance, and Aga Khan Rural Support Programme, was formally announced at an event in Islamabad attended by His Excellency Salem Mohammed Alzaabi, Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to Pakistan, along with senior representatives from Bank Alfalah, Aga Khan Foundation, and international development partners including the Asian Development Bank, European Union, Global Affairs Canada, and Concern Worldwide.
The initiative comes in response to the devastating monsoon floods of August 2025, which triggered flash floods, cloudbursts, debris flows, and glacial lake outburst floods across northern Pakistan. The disaster severely damaged essential infrastructure including drinking water systems, irrigation channels, bridges, and homes, leaving thousands of residents without access to basic services.
Under the rehabilitation programme, key interventions include the restoration of drinking water supply systems to ensure access to safe water, reconstruction of irrigation channels to revive agricultural activity, and construction of flood protection structures to safeguard vulnerable settlements. Emergency winterized shelters will also be replenished to improve disaster preparedness in high-risk valleys.
The project has a total financial outlay of PKR 57.05 million, including a PKR 50 million grant from Bank Alfalah and PKR 7.05 million contributed by Aga Khan Foundation Pakistan. It is expected to directly benefit over 10,600 people and indirectly support nearly 13,000 residents across Gilgit, Ghizer, and Hunza districts. An additional PKR 9.3 million component will support the installation of a 25KV solar system at a school in Chitral, enhancing educational facilities for students and staff.
Officials emphasized that the programme is designed with strong community participation and coordination with local authorities to ensure effective implementation. Sustainability has been prioritized through community ownership and maintenance systems to guarantee long-term functionality of restored infrastructure.
Speaking at the occasion, Bank Alfalah President and CEO Atif Bajwa said the initiative reflects the bank’s commitment to responsible banking and community investment, aligned with its focus on customers, colleagues, community, and country.
Aga Khan Foundation Pakistan CEO Akhtar Iqbal stated that the partnership aims not only to rebuild damaged infrastructure but also to strengthen long-term resilience against future climate shocks, enabling affected communities to recover with dignity and security.
The event also highlighted the broader role of international partners, particularly the United Arab Emirates, in supporting climate resilience and humanitarian development efforts in Pakistan, reinforcing long-standing bilateral cooperation in sustainable development and disaster response.
