A $400 million World Bank-backed initiative meant to rebuild flood-ravaged homes in Balochistan has been quietly scaled back, leaving over 134,000 verified families without the resilient housing they were promised. The restructure, approved behind closed doors, also triggered investigations into alleged record tampering and duplicate payments, casting a shadow over Pakistan's post-2022 flood recovery efforts. Main Developments The project steering committee, co-chaired by Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal and Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti, capped the housing component of the Integrated Flood Resilience & Adaptation Project (IFRAP) at roughly 69,000 homes. That figure falls far short of the more than 134,000 families previously surveyed, registered, and verified for assistance. In a unanimous decision at its June 22-23 meeting, the committee redirected remaining housing funds toward roads and irrigation, and formally declined additional World Bank financing. The bank had proposed $180 million in extra funding that could have extended reconstruction to the remaining affected families. Read also: 3 key questions as judicial probe opens into 2 girls' deaths in Lahore police custody Investigations are now examining allegations of record tampering, duplicate claims, and multiple payments for the same housing units. Officials also reported attempts to disrupt these probes, and the fact-finding committee was denied access to records in Balochistan. Background The 2022 floods devastated large parts of Pakistan, prompting international pledges exceeding $9 billion at the January 2023 Geneva Conference. IFRAP was designed to rebuild homes in Balochistan using a community-led, owner-driven model, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif publicly promising a resilient house for every family that lost one. Concerns over progress surfaced early. At the June meeting, the planning minister flagged a discrepancy: 15,000 houses were reported as completed to the prime minister, but official records showed only 8,694. Conflicting narratives emerged—some claimed misreporting was used to downgrade housing in favor of contractor-oriented infrastructure projects, while others pointed to slow progress due to land title issues, financial access problems, and transparency gaps. The World Bank also expressed concerns over changes in project leadership, and the planning ministry and Economic Affairs Division appeared to be at odds. Planning Minister Iqbal and World Bank Country Director Bolormaa Amgaabazar held at least two meetings to resolve the situation, but issues persisted. Why It Matters The downsizing reverses a public commitment to flood victims at a time when trust in government recovery efforts is fragile. More than 134,000 families—already verified and registered—now face an uncertain future without the promised homes. The controversy also raises questions about fiduciary oversight in large-scale disaster response. Allegations of tampering and duplicate payments, if proven, could undermine donor confidence and affect future international financing for climate adaptation in Pakistan. Comparisons with Sindh's People's Housing for Flood Affectees (SPHF)—a $3 billion initiative that has rebuilt over 2 million homes—highlight stark inconsistencies in execution. The planning commission argues the two projects are incomparable, citing differences in funding structures and compliance requirements, but public perception may not be so forgiving. What's Next Both the planning minister and the chief minister have ordered an independent high-level inquiry to ensure transparency and accountability. The planning commission has proposed using satellite imagery to verify completed houses, a step that could help resolve the reporting discrepancies. The project's future direction remains unclear. With additional World Bank financing declined and funds redirected to infrastructure, the fate of the remaining 65,000-plus verified families hangs in the balance. The commission insists housing construction is ongoing—about 75,000 homes are under construction, with 26,000 completed—but the gap between promises and delivery is widening.