Independent Report.
Quetta,15 Aug 2025: The A total of 40 Union Council Development Plans (UCDPs) for Gwadar and Lasbela districts have been formally handed over to the Government of Balochistan (GoB) by the Gwadar Lasbela Livelihoods Support Project (GLLSP-II) jointly financed by GoB and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).
The five-year UCDPs, developed through extensive consultations with communities, government line departments, and private sector partners, set out targeted actions to address local development priorities, mobilize community resources, and strengthen self-reliance. The Local Government and Rural Development Department (LG&RD) and the Policy and Development Department (P&DD) Government of Balochistan will lead their implementation and monitoring.
Abdul Rauf Baloch, Secretary, Local Government Department, lauded IFAD and the GLLSP-II team for their technical and financial support saying, “these plans will serve as a roadmap for inclusive rural development, responding directly to the needs identified by communities.” These plans will be executed, for that government will ensure resource allocation for these. He further stated that these kinds of plans should be developed for all the rural union councils of the province.
“This major step shows what can be achieved when communities and government come together with a shared vision for their future. It speaks to IFAD’s mission of standing with rural people, strengthening their voice in decision-making, and ensuring they have the tools to build lasting opportunities. In Balochistan, the GLLSP-II is proving that community-driven development can create both resilience and hope for generations to come,” said Fernanda Thomaz da Rocha, IFAD Country Director for Pakistan, noting the long-term potential of this initiative.
Durra Baloch, Secretary, Sports and Youth Affairs, highlighted the participatory approach of the initiative. “I have been part of various provincial policy processes, but these plans stand out as a community-driven achievement that aligns development actions with local needs,” he noted.
Asif Lehri, Program Specialist, explained that the GLLSP-II, with technical assistance from the National Rural Support Programme (NRSP), works to reduce poverty by strengthening livelihoods through grassroots planning and local governance. He noted that the demand-driven UCDPs not only address community priorities but also tap into local resources to build long-term resilience. Asif said this milestone marks the first time in Balochistan’s history that government and public stakeholders’ participation in the community driven planning and execution of development at rural level is a remarkable achievement for the sustainable participatory development approach for the province. He said that Through community-led development following the rural development concept being strengthened by National Rural Support Program (NRSP), it fosters social mobilization, strengthens local institutions, and promotes sustainable rural growth.
The second phase of GLLSP-II is a six-year initiative benefiting more than 100,000 households across 40 Union Councils of Gwadar and Lasbela districts. Through community-led development, it fosters social mobilization, strengthens local institutions, and promotes sustainable rural growth.
