KARACHI, Nov 7: A three-member delegation of World Bank, led by Country Director John W. Wall, called on Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad at the Governor’s House.

Various ongoing programmes in different sectors in Sindh came under review in the meeting, which was attended among others by Sindh Finance Adviser M.A. Jalil, Chief Secretary Fazlur Rehman and Sindh Secretary Finance Malik Israr.

Ishratul Ibad said that the government’s foremost priorities included reform programmes, continuity of development projects and policies to ensure good governance. He said that emphasis was being laid on improvement in financial discipline and working of functionaries in every department.

He said that the present government completed the schemes, which were started by the former governments, without any discrimination. The continuity of reforms programme in financial management, education, health, irrigation and other sectors was ensured with the same spirit.

He said that improvements having direct bearing on development were brought about in these sectors. In this regard, he referred to an improvement in law and order in the last few years and said this gave rise to a positive image for Karachi in the world.

Ishratul Ibad said that as a result of this an era of industrial development started in the province. He informed the delegation that after an increase in industrial units in the interior of Sindh, every second industry in Karachi was keen for further expansion. He expressed the hope that with the cooperation of the World Bank, the progress for improvement in different sectors in the province would further stabilize.

The governor also apprised the team about special attention being given to human resource development and said that programmes in this regard had been started in the health and education sectors.

He also highlighted the performance of local government system and said it had successfully entered into its second term which was reflective of its popularity.

They also exchanged views on farmer’s organizations in irrigation system.

The World Bank delegation gave suggestions for accelerating pace of ongoing development projects in the province.

Talking to the delegation, Sindh Finance Adviser M.A. Jalil discussed economic structure of the province.

The delegation told the adviser that they wanted to make an investment in Sindh on the line of investment made in Punjab, particularly in education and irrigation sectors, so that illiteracy could be controlled and water problems could be overcome with rightful distribution among small growers.

Additional Chief Secretary Ghulam Sarwar Khehro and Additional Secretary Naheed Durrani were also present on the occasion.—APP/PPI