WASHINGTON, June 8: The World Bank has approved a $451 million package, including both credits and loans, to help Pakistan improve education, health and other facilities.

The assistance will be used for improving education in Punjab and Sindh, enhancing irrigation in Punjab, implementing education and health reforms in the NWFP and eradicating polio throughout the country.

Islamabad had in recent years made good progress towards improving human development indicators and reducing poverty and vulnerability, said Yusupha Crookes, World Bank Country Director for Pakistan. But there could be no room for complacency.

According to the World Bank, only half of Pakistan’s adult population is literate, over 40 per cent of five-nine year olds are not in school, and poor health outcomes and high fertility will remain obstacles to economic growth and poverty alleviation.

The $130 million for the second NWFP development policy credit is designed to broaden and deepen human development reforms in key sectors such as education and health.

The $100 million for the fourth Punjab education development policy credit supports the ongoing Punjab education sector reform programme, which has now entered its second phase.

The $100 million for the second Punjab irrigation sector development policy loan will support reforms designed to improve management and maintenance of the irrigation system to ensure its long-term physical and financial sustainability.

The $100 million for the Sindh education sector development policy credit is the first of a series of three operations designed to support the provincial government’s medium-term education sector reform programme.

The $21.14 million for the additional financing credit for polio eradication will help supply the oral vaccine for the supplementary immunisation activities during the second half of 2007.