The World Bank will award a US$132 grant to Tajikistan for rehabilitation of roads that are of regional importance in Central Asia, according to the Secretariat of the Ministry of Finance (MoF).
A relevant document was signed by Finance Minister Faiziddin Qahhorzoda, Customs Service Head Khurshed Karimzoda and World Bank Country Manager for Tajikistan Jan-Peter Olters on May 17.
The financing reportedly comes from the International Development Association (US$131 million) and the Program for Asia Connectivity and Trade Trust Fund (US$1 million).
Recall, the Fourth Phase of the Central Asia Regional Links Program (CARs-4) aims to enhance Tajikistan’s regional transport connectivity and facilitate cross-border trade.
The objective of CARs-4 is in improving Tajikistan’s connectivity and cross-border trade and enhancing the resilience and safety of its road infrastructure in Sughd province and Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAO).
The northern Sughd province and the eastern part of GBAO play a strategically important role as they serve as the country’s entry and exit points for trade and travel to neighboring countries, including to Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Afghanistan and China, as well as serves as a transit corridor.
The project will finance the rehabilitation of over 50 kilometers of roads in Sughd province in four sections: Bekabad (Uzbek border)–Kurkat, Dehmoi–Ghafourov, Ghafourov–Khistevarz, and Kuchkak–Konibodom.
It will also support the construction of the Khorog bridge and tunnels, galleries and bridges around the Barsem village on the Pamir Highway in GBAO, which is highly prone to natural disasters. The Pamir Highway is a critical regional corridor that links Tajikistan directly to China, Afghanistan and further to South Asia Region.
