18 April 2004	Sunday	27 Safar 1425

MUZAFFARABAD, April 17: An Asian Development Bank (ADB) mission is due to arrive here on Monday for a three-day visit to discuss the extension of loan to Azad Jammu and Kashmir for multi-sector rehabilitation projects.

AJK planning and development department sources told Dawn on Friday that the ADB management had supported fielding a mission to process the possible fast-track loan for AJK by October.

The bank had sought cooperation from the officials and agencies concerned as a requirement for early processing of the loan, they said.

"We will lay emphasis on the hydroelectric power generation sector and physical infrastructure," the sources said.

They said the Asian Development Bank had not extended any loan to Azad Kashmir in the past and the development might be "because of the confidence-building measures between Pakistan and India."

They said the bank had also initiated a similar process in held Kashmir.

The objective of the loan project was to facilitate sustainable urban, rural and social development, particularly in the low-income areas of Azad Kashmir, and strengthen the local governments, they said.