ISLAMABAD, Nov 16: President Gen Pervez Musharraf assured the World Bank here on Friday that the reform programme undertaken by his government will continue despite new economic difficulties arising out of the Sept 11 terror attack on America.

The visiting World Bank Vice President Ms Mieko Nishimizu called on the president here on Friday and was assured that there would be no let-up in improving the overall governance.

Official sources told Dawn that the president also told her that the ministry of law had undertaken necessary legislation to protect the actions and decisions of the government taken during the last two years.

Ms Nishimizu, in turn, promised that the World Bank will offer substantial new assistance if the reform programme stayed on course. She said that Pakistan government had made substantial progress in major economic fields.

The president said that his government expected all possible cooperation of the bilateral and multilateral agencies to help improve the economy. However, the sources said, he made it clear that Pakistan supported the US-led coalition against terrorism on principles and that he did not seek any quid pro quo in this behalf.

According to an announcement made after the meeting, Ms Mieko discussed with the president the restructuring of CBR, structural and financial reforms and Pakistan’s poverty alleviation programme. They also reviewed the post-Sept 11 global economic crisis and its impact on Pakistan’s economy.

She discussed threadbare the World Bank’s future assistance to Pakistan, especially under poverty reduction growth facility. The president appreciated the strong support extended by the WB and reiterated his commitment to the reform agenda.

Earlier, she met Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz and said Pakistan for the first time in 50 years had introduced structural, management, administrative, financial and corporate reforms which were on track and irreversible. The finance minister lauded her support for Pakistan’s reform agenda and said he looked forward to increased concessional assistance from the World Bank.

Ms Mieko reposed Bank’s confidence in Pakistan’s fiscal discipline, revamping of revenue generation system, structural management, capacity building, good governance and social sector programme, especially health and education.

However, she stated that increased capacity building through skill management and training could make the administrative and financial system even more efficient.

They also discussed long-term reconstruction of social, economic and physical infrastructure in Afghanistan to improve quality of life in that country.