ISLAMABAD: The World Bank has reported satisfactory progress on the USD 378 million Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Rural Accessibility Project (KPRAP) aimed at improving safe and climate-resilient rural access to schools, health facilities, and markets in selected districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. According to the official documents, progress toward achieving the project’s development objective remains “satisfactory,” while overall implementation progress has been rated “moderately satisfactory.” The overall risk rating for the project continues to remain “substantial.” The project, which was approved in June 2022 and financed through credits from the International Development Association, seeks to enhance rural connectivity and improve access to education, healthcare, and markets through safer and climate-resilient road infrastructure. READ ALSO: World Bank approves $108m more aid for KP projects Under Component-1, which focuses on safe and climate-resilient access, procurement of civil works has been planned in three phases covering 12 packages. So far, eight packages—four each under Phase-I and Phase-II—have been awarded and construction work has commenced. Work on the remaining packages 9–12 is expected to start by May 2026, according to the report. The project aims to upgrade or rehabilitate 600 kilometres of rural roads with climate-resilient and road-safety measures by June 2027. Under Component-2, which promotes safe and affordable school journeys for girls, subsidised transport services are currently operating in 152 schools across 10 districts. The number of girls benefiting from the programme increased from 4,593 in June 2025 to 14,848 as of February 2026, with a target of 30,000 beneficiaries annually by June 2027. The attendance rate of girls receiving subsidised transport currently stands at 73 percent, with the project targeting an increase to 80 percent by the project’s completion. The initiative is also expected to reduce travel time for rural populations to access schools, health facilities and markets once road construction is completed. Financially, the project comprises two credits from the International Development Association totaling USD 378 million, with about 63.8 percent of the initial USD 300 million credit already disbursed. The project became effective in January 2023 and is scheduled to close on June 30, 2027. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026