11 July 2004	Sunday	22 Jamadi-ul-Awwal 1425

KARACHI, July 10: A meeting between the Sindh Governor, Dr Ishratul Ibad Khan, and a World Bank mission reviewed the cooperation of the bank in the water sector.

It reviewed the existing conditions and discussed the future possibilities with regard to improvements in water sector.

The meeting, held at the Governor's House and attended by the representatives of the World Bank and ministers and secretaries concerned, chiefs of various departments of the Sindh government, discussed the prevailing water conditions and World Bank and Sindh government's efforts in this regard.

The meeting also reviewed the working of the water boards in the province.

It was informed that under the agreements, preparations in connection with the Water Improvement Project had started from January and the same would be submitted to World Bank during 2005.

The WB mission appreciated the progress made in institutional reforms process under the National Drainage Programme in Sindh and also appreciated the governor's cooperation in implementation of water projects.

The governor pointed out that President Gen. Pervez Musharraf had been giving special importance to streamlining the irrigation system on modern lines and he also wanted the participation of growers.

In this regard, he said, the continuity of reforms programme would be ensured and that he was personally monitoring it.

The governor directed the concerned authorities to ensure participation of growers at all levels of water distribution matters.

In this regard, he said that the irrigation system plays a cardinal role, and for its improvement, measures were being taken locally, as well as with World Bank's cooperation.

Dr Ishratul Ibad said that all-out efforts were being made for raising the standard of living of the people and to bring improvement in the socio-economic infrastructure.

The meeting was attended by representatives of World Bank mission, Senior minister Syed Sardar Ahmed, planning and development minister Shoaib Ahmed Bokhari, irrigation minister Nadir Akmal Leghari, additional chief secretary Ghulam Sarwar Khehro, irrigation secretary Ashfaq Memon, finance secretary Malik Israr, chairman of SIDA, Brig (Retd) Abdul Haq and other officials.

MEETING WITH CM: Sindh Chief Minister Arbab Ghulam Rahim at a meeting with the World Bank mission discussed the matters relating to financial assistance for water projects and National Drainage Programme.

The World Bank mission, led by South Asian Sector's Regional Director for Agriculture and Rural Development Ms Constence Bernard, called on the chief minister at Chief Minister's House on Saturday.

Constence Bernard assured Arbab Rahim about the World Bank's future assistance for implementation of the National Drainage Programme and Reforms Programme under the SIDA next year.

Appreciating the initiatives of World Bank for its assistance in water sector in Sindh, Arbab Rahim said that the government would continue to cooperate with the Bank for reforms in Sindh.

The World Bank has committed to provide one billion dollar assistance during the next four years in the water sector. Under the agreement, $170 million will be provided to Sindh government this year for reforms and rehabilitation of Sukkur Barrage.-Agencies