Preparing the Naulong Integrated Water Resources Development Project

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The proposed Naulong Integrated Water Resources Development Project will harness flood flows generated by intense but highly episodic rainfall. It will develop a storage reservoir for multipurpose use of agriculture, power generation and drinking water. The proposed project site is at the Naulong gorge on the Mula River in Jhal Magsi District, Balochistan, Pakistan. The ensuing project is a technically feasible and economically viable opportunity for water resources development and climate change adaptation, given that future variability in river flows may require water storage infrastructure. The ensuing project's impact - sustainable and inclusive human development resilient to disaster and climate change, is aligned with the National Water Policy (2018), the National Climate Change Policy, and Pakistan 2025. The project will increase the reliability of water resources in the project area for multipurpose use. Tentative outputs of the ensuing project are (i) a climate-resilient multipurpose dam constructed; (ii) a modernized irrigation system developed; and (iii) climate-smart agriculture productivity enhanced and livelihoods improved. The ensuing project will develop the skills of beneficiaries, especially women and relevant government agencies. This will be through integrated water resources management and resilient agriculture. It will include the operation and maintenance of climate-resilient infrastructure, which will be developed with a community participatory approach.The ensuing project will provide more reliable water resources to enhance agricultural productivity and climate-resilient livelihood opportunities in the project area, especially for low-income households with vulnerable populations, including women. To deliver these benefits, the ensuing project will construct an earth-filled multipurpose dam on the Mula River with associated infrastructure, including an irrigation system and power generation houses. The reservoir will store water for irrigation, fisheries, domestic water supply, and hydropower generation. It will also regulate flood flows to avoid impacts of water-related disasters on vulnerable downstream communities. The ensuing project will enhance the livelihoods of the local population through irrigated agriculture and fisheries development, and domestic water supply. Improved flood management will enhance the climate and disaster resilience of communities and will contribute to climate change adaptation. The project will also contribute to climate change mitigation through hydropower generation. More than 58,000 people are expected to benefit from the ensuing project, which is estimated to cost about $350 million, with indicative Asian Development Bank (ADB) financing of $100 million. It is programmed for ADB approval in 2025. ADB and the Government of Pakistan will engage with development partners to seek cofinancing for the ensuing project.