Projects financed by the World Bank under the microscope | The Express Tribune

PESHAWAR:

A consultative meeting of senior officials of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government and the World Bank was held here under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Sardar Ali Amin Khan Gandapur.

During the meeting, the development and strengthening of cooperation and cooperation in various social sectors of the voivodeship was reviewed.

The meeting was attended by members of provincial cabinets, the Chief Secretary and administrative secretaries of relevant departments, while the WB team was represented by Country Director Najy Benhassine.

The meeting discussed opportunities for enhanced cooperation in various potential sectors, including health, education, agriculture, animal husbandry, irrigation, green energy, road infrastructure and tourism, and agreed in principle that cooperation should be enhanced to boost these sectors. The aim is to improve the delivery of social sector services, create maximum employment opportunities and strengthen the provincial economy.

The departments have been directed to take necessary action for this purpose on priority basis.

Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister welcomed WB’s intention to further strengthen cooperation with the provincial government. He said the provincial government highly values ​​the bank’s continued cooperation in various social sectors.

He assured that the provincial government would provide all possible assistance to ensure timely implementation of various initiatives implemented in the province with the joint cooperation of the World Bank.

Touching on various initiatives of his government in the field of public welfare, the CM said that his government is working on an initiative to give a special package to expectant mothers in rural areas to address the issue of stunting in children, adding that the provincial government intends to launch an Education Charter, modeled after on the Health Card, for free educational facilities for the deserving population. Similarly, he said, the project has been reflected in the upcoming ADP to provide solar power to deserving households in the province, while a project to provide soft loans to youth for starting small-scale businesses is also part of the new ADP.

Gandapur noted that his government is working under a well-planned strategy to strengthen the potential revenue-generating sectors of the province, including mines and minerals, agriculture, animal husbandry, tourism and HDI energy, on modern lines to increase the revenue of the provincial government.

He said food security was one of the important priority areas of his government and several initiatives were being taken to develop the vast arid areas of the southern region by ensuring efficient and judicious use of available water resources.

The Prime Minister stated that his government would welcome increased cooperation from the World Bank in the above-mentioned sectors.

Gandapur said in a separate statement that the law and order situation in the province has improved significantly under his government.

“We have strengthened institutions such as the Counter Terrorism Department and other law enforcement agencies. The provincial government has presented a tax-free budget.