KARACHI, Nov 17: A delegation of the World Bank, led by its vice president, Ms. Mieko Nishimizu, lauded the Sindh government’s “economic reforms programme” during their meeting with the Sindh Governor, Mohammedmian Soomro, here on Saturday.
Sindh finance minister Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh briefed the mission members about the details of the reforms programme and apprised them about financial discipline and reorientation of development programme.
Speaking about the scope and pace of economic reform programme, the Vice-President of World Bank, Mieko Nishimizu, said steps taken in sectors of financial management, poverty-alleviation and health were encouraging.
She offered World Bank partnership in the Sindh government’s reform programme and said all possible technical and financial assistance will be provided.
She said the Sindh’s economic reforms programme was an ideal for the World Bank which could be specially funded.
She said that the programme was continuing with the cooperation of the federal government and Sindh was in the forefront among other provinces in the implementation of such programmes.
Under this programme, a dollar 100 million concessionary loan is expected from the World Bank.
In connection with this expected loan, the WB team, headed by a senior official Ahmed Ahsan, is visiting the province.
Besides the WB Vice President, the bank’s country director for Pakistan, John Wall, also praised the steps for economic reforms.
The Vice-President World Bank also stressed on female education.
She said that dependence on formal methods only would delay the achievement of desired objectives, and non-formal methods of education would have to be adopted.
Mieko Nishimizu said all programmes should not restrict to the tenure of a government and must be sustainable.
Speaking on the occasion, Governor Mohammedmian Soomro said that the basic objective of all programmes and efforts of the government were to raise the living standard of the common man and for this purpose reforms in anyone sector only cannot produce results.
He said a coordinated programme should be implemented by focusing on all sectors.
He made it clear that health and education, recovery of taxes and other sectors were all inter-connected.
Provincial Finance Minister, Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh informed that as a result of financial discipline, the State Bank’s over- drafts had reduced from Rs 11 billion to just Rs 2 billion while it reached the zero level in July last.
Referring to reform programme, he said it comprises financial management, social sector services, good governance and private sector development.— APP/PPI
