LAHORE: A World Bank (WB) delegation led by Country Director Najy Benhassine on Friday called on Chief Minister Parvez Elahi and discussed the WB-assisted social and infrastructure improvement programmes of the province.

The country director assured to promote cooperation in education, health, family planning, irrigation, agriculture and construction of small dams while offering to give $35 million to the Punjab government for cash transfer for flood victims.

Mr Elahi said the $35 million would be linked to the Punjab Ehsaas Programme and distributed to the flood victims. With the WB support in his previous tenure as chief minister, he said, reforms were introduced in education and health, and educational reforms were also acknowledged globally. He stressed the government wanted to restart this cooperation and welcome cooperation of the WB with the Punjab government at all levels. He said the province would move ahead while adopting short- and long-term cooperation with the bank.

The chief minister observed that there was a need to formulate a multi-pronged strategy in the context of climate change. He said the water storage projects would be started to save flood and rainwater and added that the World Bank was the most important development partner of the Punjab government. He said the government would ensure achievement of the set goals in various sectors. He said a comprehensive plan was being worked out to eliminate malnutrition among children.

Mr Benhassine said the World Bank would continue cooperating with the Punjab government and added that education, health and social sector reforms of the Punjab government would yield positive results. He said the World Bank would continue working under close coordination with the Punjab government.

Published in Dawn, September 24th, 2022