Islamabad: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) approved a loan of $320 million for the rehabilitation of roads in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan.

ADB's Resident Mission announced on Friday that the ‘Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Rural Road Development Project’ will upgrade about 900 km of rural roads in the province that have been affected by floods and are in poor condition.

It covers key routes that connect remote communities to education, health care and markets. The plan includes measures to incorporate climate-resilient design, increased road safety, and sustainable maintenance practices.

Asian Development Bank Director General for Central and West Asia Yevgeny Zhukov said that road transport is a lifeline for people and an important component of socio-economic development in Pakistan. This major infrastructure project will reduce travel time, and transportation costs and increase access to economic opportunities for millions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa residents.

“By providing better access to markets and services, we are empowering local communities and driving inclusive economic growth in one of Pakistan's most underserved regions,” he said.

The project will provide technical and financial support to help the government develop long-term targeted interventions that will increase the sustainability of the province's road network.

ADB Senior Transport Specialist Seunghoon Kim said ADB will support the government to conduct a comprehensive study on the nature of flooding to identify priority roads, focusing on the risk of landslides across the province. We will assist the government in preparing concession agreements for the operation and maintenance of two tourist roads, which will contribute to the sustainability of the road network.

Noting that Pakistan is a founding member of the ADB, since 1966 the Bank has been working to promote inclusive economic growth in Pakistan and improve the country's infrastructure, energy and food security, transport networks, and social services. More than $52 billion has been committed to public and private sector loans, grants, and other forms of financing.

New Delhi: The Supreme Court of India has granted bail to New Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the liquor policy case.

According to the Indian media, the Supreme Court declared the arrest of Aam Aadmi Party leader and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal by the investigating agency CBI as unjustified in the liquor policy case and ordered his release on bail.

After the Indian Supreme Court decision, Chief Minister Kejriwal is expected to be released from prison after six months.

The Indian media reported that despite getting bail from the court, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal cannot go to his office or sign any official file without the permission of the Lieutenant Governor.

It is pertinent to note that Arvind Kejriwal was arrested in the liquor policy case and his bail plea was rejected several times.

However, during the Indian elections held in April, the court released him for a few days to campaign.

Islamabad: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that the sufferings of the Muslims of Gaza are an open mockery of the international community.

While addressing a virtual meeting of the United Nations Summit of the Future, the Prime Minister stated that there is a risk of dividing the world due to new global challenges and increasing tensions. Equality and justice are necessary to unite the world. The suffering of the Muslims of Gaza is an open mockery of global unity. This collectivity is being mocked in the plight of the people of Gaza.

He added that debt piles on economically weak countries, increase in poverty, economic division, intolerance, terrorism, illegal occupation and lack of seriousness on climate change are obstacles to global unity.

Shehbaz Sharif further said that reforms of the global economic structure are necessary to achieve the goals of sustainable development. The global economy has to think about modern methods of development investment. ‘We also need to protect the world from the misuse of technology’. Injustice and inequality provide opportunities for exploitation by evil elements at local and international levels.

He continued to say that the nations burdened by climate change and debt are the most affected by the challenges of terrorism and misinformation.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres also addressed the meeting along with the leaders of various countries.