WB-funded projects under scrutiny

K-P, bank teams discuss enhanced collaboration in health, education and agriculture

PESHAWAR:

A consultative meeting of the high-ups of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government and the World Bank was held here with Chief Minister Sardar Ali Amin Khan Gandapur in the chair.

The meeting reviewed the expansion and enhancement of cooperation and collaboration in various social sectors of the province.

Provincial cabinet members, chief secretary and administrative secretaries of the relevant departments attended the meeting whereas the WB team was represented by Country Director Najy Benhassine.

The meeting discussed avenues of enhanced collaboration in various potential sectors including health, education, agriculture, livestock, irrigation, green energy, road infrastructure and tourism, and it was agreed in principle to enhance collaboration to boost these sectors. The aim is to improve social sector service delivery, create maximum employment opportunities and strengthen the province’s economy.

The departments were directed to take necessary action towards this end on priority basis.

Talking on this occasion, the chief minister welcomed the WB’s intent to further enhance collaboration with the provincial government. He said that the provincial government highly valued the bank’s ongoing cooperation in various social sectors.

He assured that the provincial government would extend all possible support to ensure the timely completion of various initiatives being carried out in the province with the joint collaboration of the WB.

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

Gandapur remarked that his government was working under a well-planned strategy to strengthen the potential revenue generating sectors of the province including mines and minerals, agriculture, livestock, tourism, and hdyel power on modern lines in order to enhance the provincial government’s revenues.

He said that food security is one of the important priority area of his government, and a number of initiatives are being undertaken to bring the vast barren land of the south region under cultivation by ensuring effective and prudent use of available water resources.

The chief minister said that his government would welcome enhanced collaboration of the WB in the above mentioned sectors.

Separately, Gandapur said that the law and order situation in the province has considerably improved under his government.

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