PESHAWAR, Sept 2: The World Bank has announced a 44 per cent increase in financial aid for the second phase of Social Sectors Reforms Programme of the provincial government.

The bank enhanced its aid from $90 million to $130 million, an official statement quoted Harsha Atarupen, head of the visiting eight-member World Bank mission, as saying during a meeting here on Saturday.

Harsha Atarupen also appreciated the provincial government on the transparent use of the recently-released assistance of $90 million for the first phase of programme.

The meeting, presided over by Senior Minister Sirajul Haq, was attended by Secretary Finance Ziaur Rahman, Secretary Education Shafiullah Khan, Secretary Health Abdus Samad, Secretary Industries Abdul Khaliq and others.

The World Bank reforms programme aims at improving the standard of all social sectors in the NWFP on a consistent basis, with special emphasis on education and health sectors.