September 26, 2008	Friday	Ramazan 25, 1429

NEW YORK, Sept 25: The World Bank is considering a $1.377 billion package to help Pakistan overcome its economic problems, the bank’s president said.

World Bank Robert Zoellick made this commitment during a meeting with President Asif Ali Zardari in New York on Wednesday.

He assured the Pakistani leader of the bank’s continued support and said that a $1.337 billion World Bank funded programme was in the pipeline.

The fund will be used for investment in energy and water sectors and for developing infrastructure. He also assured World Bank's support for development projects in Fata as well as for poverty reduction programmes.

President Zardari discussed his government’s macroeconomic stabilisation programmes with the bank’s president and sought his assistance for the Benazir Income Support Programme for the poor.

He also urged the bank to help mobilise resources for industrialisation and investment in Pakistan.

He said the political government had taken difficult and tough decision to meet the current economic challenges and was doing its best to bring the country out of the current economic crisis.

Mr Zardari noted that a group called the Friends of Pakistan was being mobilised to support the country’s economic recovery.

The president also shared his vision for a fast-track development and industrialisation in Fata to provide employment opportunities in that area.