October 17, 2003	Friday	Sha'aban 20, 1424

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ISLAMABAD, Oct 16: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) will provide a technical assistance of $300,000 to the Punjab government to prepare a programme aimed at strengthening and expanding the devolved social services for the poor.

The spokesman for the ADB in Islamabad said the programme would aim at boosting the effectiveness, efficiency and equitable distribution of social services to better target the poor in health, education, water and sanitation.

The total cost of the assistance, which is due to be completed by end-May 2004, is estimated at US$400,000 of which the provincial government will contribute US$100,000 equivalent.

“It will also offer support for related services such as poverty reduction, community participation and gender in development,” the spokesman said.

He said under the devolution plan introduced in August 2001, the best way to achieve results that increased community participation, accountability and sustainability of basic services is to get engaged at district level and below.

“But health and education administration and planning require extensive and continuing capacity building and substantial leadership. The focus of the technical assistance will, therefore, be on relatively low cost services that are easy to administer and will benefit many people, especially the poor,” the ADB spokesman said.

The devolved social services sector development programme for the Punjab is included in ADB’s 2004 pipeline of assistance for US$150 million and follows a similar programme for Sindh, which is in ADB’s current year’s assistance pipeline.

“The Punjab has an extensive network of schools and health care facilities, which when property managed and functioning will provide major public health benefits to the poor, the country director of ADB’s resident mission in Pakistan, Marshuk Ali Shah said.

“Activities in the upcoming project will aim at improving run- down facilities and supporting new initiatives, including public- private partnerships,” the spokesman said.

He said the preparatory technical assistance would promote discussions with stakeholders to recommend social sector policies, which would help improve the efficiency of local governments in the delivery of social services.

“The priorities will mirror the millennium development goal (MDG) in extending universal basic education, reducing dropout rates, improving gender balance, reducing maternal and child mortality and increasing access to safe drinking water supply and sanitation,” the ADB official said.

The planning and development department of the Punjab government will be the executing agency of the technical assistance programme and a steering committee will be established to provide overall guidance.