World Bank

World Bank lowers rating of $100 million project in Punjab

Move comes due to provincial government’s failure to approve a spatial strategy

Lender says four influential groups have frustrated efforts to bring reforms in country

Focusing on Pakistan in 2047, new WB report recommends reforms to accelerate and sustain growth

Document will discuss options for increase in Pakistan’s economic growth

Believes it will begin operation in 4 years, generate $200m in revenue

Says Pakistan has not done much to uncover layers of secrecy in companies

The projects focus on increasing urban mobility, water issues, improving city management

Govt committed to taking necessary measures to improve ease of doing business, says Abdul Razak Dawood

The nomination of Malpass signals that the Trump administration wants a firmer grip on the World Bank

WB says country suffers $12b loss annually; new dams won't address pressing water security issues

Lender plans to bring reforms in tax administration, tax policy simultaneously

Funding will be transferred to Pakistan Mortgage Refinance Company

Ivanka Trump in 2017 was driving force behind Saudi-supported World Bank fund to promote entrepreneurship by women

Discus efforts to decrease fertility rate by expanding distribution network for contraceptive services

Project is aimed at supporting independent power producers to develop 400MW of new solar power capacity

Says global economy is going through difficult period as risks are rising

However, he will likely face many challenges if he wants an American in the post

Decision comes three years before his current term is due to expire

World Bank urges policymakers to avoid increasing electricity tariff as solution to sector’s fiscal problems

Decision comes as the bank, Pakistan fail to agree on macroeconomic framework

Pakistan and India have barely scratched the surface of bilateral trade potential

Identifies tariffs and para-tariffs, non-tariff barriers, connectivity costs and trust deficit as major hurdles

The report provides serious food for thought in relation to public policy for improving sanitation services

The report says spatial disparities in poverty levels as well as in the pace of poverty reduction remain large

Balochistan and Sindh lag behind considerably when compared to K-P and Punjab

Board’s projects among 15 chosen for improving public sector performance

Jump attributed to reforms undertaken by previous federal and provincial govts

It covers implementation status of the corridor and its future prospects

Minister says former govt misled people about acquisition of land for project

Countries like Pakistan have often fared poorly in the Global Competitiveness Report

Extreme poverty has continued to come down in recent years

Indonesian city of Palu was rocked by a 7.5-magnite earthquake and a tsunami on September 28

Urges Pakistan to avoid excessive debts which cannot be repaid

Says country is exposed to serious boom-and-bust cycles and has high build-up of liabilities

Country Director Illango, Health Minister Kiyani meet in Islamabad

Report to be presented before international donor group, Ad Hoc Liasion Committee

Foreign minister stressed during the meeting that the humanitarian issue should not be politicised

Says project can face delay due to country’s inability to resolve land disputes

Vice president for South Asia region meets finance minister Asad Umar, discusses strategies

The Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency has issued guarantees worth $66 million

One of the areas that beckon immediate priority is on health and education particularly that of women

World Bank-funded project might be extended for another year

Lender approved amount to put economy on sustainable path; it was instead used to boost foreign reserves

Pakistan has had water crises as more than one-third of the water resources have origins outside of the country

Slow progress on projects means it fails to benefit from concessionary financing window

Corporation working on rebuilding roof of Municipal Library, renovating bus stand. abattoir

World Bank president Jim Yon Kim called on countries to invest in human capital, particularly in health and education

Another democratic transition is under way, we must remind ourselves of the reversal of the civil-military leadership

Will provide more than $500m for this project and producing solar energy in Sindh