The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is partnering with the Government of Pakistan at the federal and provincial levels to improve the lives of the citizens of Balochistan.
HIGHLIGHT
USAID has supported Balochistan through a range of projects that improved livelihoods, increased community resilience, and enhanced education and health services, improvements to infrastructure, and support to provincial farmers and businesses.
ECONOMIC GROWTH AND AGRICULTURE
USAID activities increased agricultural incomes in various districts along the Afghan border by providing farmers with grants and training for irrigation, crop and livestock improvement, land leveling, orchard establishment, wool shearing, and grading.
INFRASTRUCTURE
Under an agreement with Pakistan’s National Highway Authority, USAID rehabilitated a 111-kilometer section of the Kalat-Quetta-Chaman road. As part of the National Highway (N-25), the project included building several toll plazas to generate revenue to help maintain the highway. Reports indicate that the N-25 highway already is stimulating local business growth and facilitating the movement of people along the road because of the easy access to commerce and the Afghanistan-Pakistan border.
EDUCATION
USAID improved children’s reading skills by providing instructional materials for classrooms and training teachers in modern instruction techniques. USAID also continues to partner with the Government of Pakistan to offer scholarships and stipends for talented youth to earn undergraduate and postgraduate degrees at any of 30 partner universities across Pakistan, including three within Balochistan.
HEALTH
USAID trained public sector health care workers on family planning, which strengthened community midwives’ capacity to share safe maternal and child survival practices and established linkages with communities through women health workers’ social support networks.
