ISLAMABAD: A World Bank team is currently working on a project to support efforts of the government for improving data collection methodologies and rebasing the national accounts in order to present a more accurate picture of the national economy.

Patchamuthu Illangovan, the World Bank Country Director in Pakistan, along with his team held a meeting with Finance Minister Ishaq Dar on Saturday to brief him on the project.

Referring to the recently-concluded Article-IV consultations with the IMF, the finance minister informed World Bank officials that the government was making all necessary efforts to consolidate the economic gains made in the last three and a half years, and achieve higher, sustainable and inclusive economic growth.

He said that the government is committed to continuing the implementation of reforms in different sectors of the economy.

The two sides reaffirmed the commitment to further strengthen their partnership for the benefit of the people. Plans for establishing the Pakistan Infrastruc­ture Bank (PIB), in cooperation with the International Finance Corporation, were also discussed.

Mr Dar said that, once established, PIB will complement the government’s infrastructure initiatives by enhancing private financing and investment for infrastructure projects.

Finance Minister’s schedule of engagements during his forthcoming visit to Washington for participation in the IMF and the World Bank Spring meetings was discussed during the meeting. The spring meetings of the World Bank and IMF are taking place in Washington from April 21 to 23.

Published in Dawn, April 9th, 2017