WB assures KP govt of funds to complete ongoing projects

PESHAWAR: A delegation of the World Bank led by its Regional Vice President for South Asia Martin Raiser met higher authorities of the provincial government and discussed with them different matters special focus on public welfare projects being executed with the financial assistance of the bank.

Prospects of mutual cooperation in the various social sectors including education, road infrastructure projects, human capital, climate change and other important sectors also came under discussion.

Speaking on the occasion, provincial government’s high ups said World Bank is playing an important role in executing public welfare projects in the province. They said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa especially merged areas had been affected badly during the war against terrorism; and that’s why the government also needed special cooperation from its international development partners in the fast track development of war-affected areas. Infrastructure development, revival of business activities and providing employment opportunities to the youth of merged districts is one of the priority areas of the provincial government.

They maintained that multiple initiatives are underway, through which youth of the province especially the merged areas would be imparted with market based technical skills, thereby enabling them to get job opportunities.

“Youth of this province are highly talented and a large part of the population; they just need to train in accordance with the needs and requirements of modern markets and for this purpose, the government is taking steps on priority basis”, they said and added that an initiative regarding provision of soft loans to the youth for promoting self-employment, is under consideration.

The delegation was informed that the Billion Tree Plus project would be reflected in the upcoming Annual Development Plan (ADP) to reduce negative impacts of climate change.

Speaking on the occasion, the delegates assured the government of all possible assistance for timely completion of ongoing public welfare projects as well as to further expand the collaboration between the World Bank and the provincial government.