World Bank unhappy over fund diversion from Balochistan

Dawn reports that the World Bank has formally objected to Pakistan's diversion of funds from a flood-resilient housing program in Balochistan to other infrastructure projects, warning the move will deepen poverty and increase disaster risk for the region's most vulnerable populations. The decision to cap housing support has left over one hundred nineteen thousand verified eligible households without financing. The program's beneficiaries are primarily ultra-poor—limited in savings and access to credit—with many working as daily-wage laborers or tenants, and about half earning less than seventy dollars per month. Excluded families now face pressure to divert income from food and healthcare toward continued temporary shelter repairs, while remaining exposed to recurring floods and earthquakes. The bank also flagged concerns about erosion of trust in government institutions, noting over sixty-six thousand grievances have been registered and calling for a transparent resolution process.

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