World Bank to continue support for Pakistan
The World Bank is committed to providing all possible technical and financial support to the government of Pakistan in key priority areas, said World Bank Director, Strategy and Operations of the South Asian Region Illango Patchamuthu.
Speaking to the Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Omar Ayub Khan at the Ministry of Economic Affairs on Saturday, he reiterated that the World Bank would continue its initiatives for regional connectivity and trade.
"The World Bank has committed more than $5.3 billion for development projects in Afghanistan
in sectors including education, health, agriculture, urban development and infrastructure," he asserted.
Ayub appreciated the World Bank for its persistent support for socioeconomic development of Pakistan as well as for key reform initiatives introduced by the present government.
Ayub also chaired a meeting to review the restructuring of 'Locust Emergency and Food Security Project' funded by the World Bank.
The scheme aims to support emergency actions to control the locust outbreak and prevent further spread across Pakistan, said a statement. The project will improve early warning systems by strengthening the Food Security and Nutrition Information System (FSNIS), which is a critical decision-making tool to prevent pest outbreak and improve national food security.
The World Bank approved $200 million for this project in July, 2020 and following the measures undertaken by the federal and provincial governments, the spread of locust was controlled successfully.
Now, this project is being restructured to restore livelihoods in locustaffected areas and strengthen Pakistan's national food security monitoring and management system to prevent any potential threat in future.
Ayub emphasised upon early finalisation of restructuring plan keeping in view the long-term approach. He added that food security was essential for every country.
On the occasion, Ministry of National Food Security and Research Additional Secretary Rashid Langrial apprised the minister about the status of restructuring.
He further added that the ministry had finished consultations with all the relevant stakeholders including Department of Plant Protection and told Ayub that restricting plan will be finalised shortly. Asian Development Bank (ADB) President Masatsugu Asakawa heaped praise on Pakistan's efforts in evacuating the financial institution's personnel from Afghanistan.
The ADB president's praise for Pakistani efforts came during his call with Prime Minister Imran Khan, a statement from the PM's Office said.
The PM also acknowledged the cooperation of ADB with Pakistan in mitigating the negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, including supporting the procurement of vaccines.
Earlier in the day, the premier received a telephone call from the President European Council Charles Michel. Both sides exchanged views on the unfolding situation in Afghanistan.
The prime minister highlighted the positive role of Pakistan in facilitating the evacuation of diplomatic personnel and staff of international organizations and others from Afghanistan.
At this, the President of the European Council thanked the prime minister for hosting evacuees in transit. The prime minister shared Pakistan's perspective, stressing that a stable and peaceful Afghanistan was in the vital interest of Pakistan and the region.