World Bank to revise Balochistan development package

Last policy documents were prepared in 2011, country director says documents will be modified with latest requirements

QUETTA:

The World Bank has promised to revise its development assistance to Balochistan and provide additional funds according to the current expenditure needs.

This was decided during a meeting between the World Bank officials, including President Dr Jim Yong Kim, and Balochistan Chief Minister Sanaullah Zehri in Karachi. About Rs60 billion worth of WB-funded projects in different sectors are underway in the province.



Balochistan CM Zehri told the visiting delegation the provincial government had made health and education sectors its top priorities.



He pointed out that the education budget had been increased by 24% in the annual budget while funds for health were jacked up by 12% from the previous year.

Expressing satisfaction over the reforms initiated by the province, the WB president assured the provincial government of reviewing the financial support programme for different sectors.

Besides education and health, reforms in sectors of mines and minerals, water, environment, technical education and other social issues were thoroughly discussed.

Zehri termed the shortage of water the ‘biggest problem of the province’ that had severely affected the agriculture and livestock sectors. “Mounting pressure in education and health sectors and unemployment are serious issues,” he said, seeking the WB’s support.



Dr Jim found the report about Balochistan requirements comprehensive and said the WB experts would review these agendas in detail to increase the financial support further.

WB Vice-President Annette Dixon said she had already visited Balochistan and more officials would soon visit the province to evaluate the proposals.

The WB’s country director said the documents last prepared by the WB for Balochistan were in 2011. They would be modified in accordance with the latest requirements.

War against terror

Meanwhile, the Balochistan CM vowed to speed up the ongoing fight against terrorism in the restive province while applauding the sacrifices of the Frontier Corps (FC) and police.

“We were aware of the surge in terrorist attacks since the announcement of [the] China-Pakistan Economic Corridor last year. The recent wave of terror has not deterred the provincial government at all as we are prepared for the challenge,” Zehri told the media on his visit to the FC Hospital in Quetta.

Replying to a query about security measures after the recent attacks in Quetta, he said more CCTV cameras would be installed across the city and the Safe Quetta City Project was also under way.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 12^th,  2016