ISLAMABAD, Mar 18: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday appreciated the World Bank’s continued engagement with Pakistan and its support towards capacity building, infrastructure development and economic growth.
The Prime Minister stated this while talking to a World Bank delegation headed by Hartwig Schafer, Vice President South Asia, which called on him here at the Prime Minister Office. Other members of the delegation included Ms Annete Dixon, Vice President Human Development, Illangovan Patchamuthu, Country Director, Ms Melinda Good, Operations Manager and Nadeem Siddiqui, Sr Country Manager International Finance Corporation (IFC).
Nadeem Siddiqui expressed the IFC’s interest in contributing towards the Prime Minister’s five million housing programme.
The delegation also offered the WB’s assistance in attracting foreign investments, analytics, sharing of expertise and technical knowledge in various sectors to help the government translate its vision into reality.
The Prime Minister welcomed the offer and said Pakistan looked forward to greater partnership with the World Bank in critical areas such as building knowledge economy and developing tourism sector especially eco-tourism, mountain and religious tourism which, he said, had a huge potential towards uplift of the poor and poverty alleviation.
He also highlighted various steps being taken by the present government towards economic stability, poverty alleviation and improving ease of doing business in the country.
The delegation lauded the Prime Minister’s vision regarding progress of the country especially his focus on economic stability, human development and addressing the issue of stunted growth due to malnutrition.
The delegation briefed the Prime Minister about various ongoing projects of the World Bank in various sectors, including water supply, sewerage and waste management, transportation and connectivity, capacity building and ease of doing business in the country.
Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Naeem-ul-Haq, Secretary Finance Arif Ahmed Khan, Secretary Economic Affairs Division Noor Ahmed and other senior officials were also present during the meeting.
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