March 22, 2003	Saturday	Muharram 18, 1424

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QUETTA, March 21: The World Bank has agreed to extend its anti-drought “Dara Programme” for one more year and held out assurance to consider Balochistan’s request for the conversion of loans into grant.

The Vice-President of World Bank, Micko Nishimizu gave this assurance in a meeting held here on Thursday. The Chief Minister of Balochistan, Jam Mir Mohammad Yousaf, and other officials were also present.

Ms Nishimizu said that the Bank would extend all possible help and cooperation for the speedy development and alleviation of poverty in Balochistan.

She said that in view of the ongoing reforms the Bank wanted to help the province in its socio-economic development.

However, she expressed her dissatisfaction over the implementation of various development projects launched by the World Bank in the past. “In my opinion these projects were not implemented transparently,” Ms Micko Nishimizu remarked and added that the Bank provides interest-free soft loans on easy terms, and it was the provincial government’s responsibility to fix its proprieties. She said that the Bank would not put any conditions in this connection.

She agreed to reduce the salaries of the foreign consultants working on World Bank-funded projects. She also expressed her willingness to extend the anti-drought programme.

Ms Nishimizu also said that the Bank would actively consider the request to convert loans into grant and the extension of education and irrigation projects.

The Balochistan chief minister, while speaking on the occasion, said that Balochistan was getting Rs24.7 billion as its share from the federal government, which was not enough.

He assured the WB vice-president that the execution of World Bank-funded projects would be made transparent.

The Chief Secretary, Major (retd) Mohammad Ashraf informed the meeting that in the PSDP the government was giving priority to the construction of roads and, 40 per cent of the funds were allocated to this sector.

The Country Director of the World Bank, John Paul, Senior Minister Maulana Abdul Wasay, Finance Minister Syed Ehsan Shah, and other ministers were also present.