KARACHI, May 28: Regional Vice President for South Asia of the World Bank Praful C Patel has expressed full support of his organisation to Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF) in its effort to reach the poorest of the poor in every nook and corner of the country.

Inaugurating a Rural Growth Centre by the PPAF under an Integrated Area Upgrading Programme at a cost of Rs9 million in the Keti Bunder area, some 195km east of Karachi, on Tuesday, Mr Patel said that food prices escalation had hit hard the poor all over the world and Pakistan was no exception.

Stating that it was his second visit to Keti Bunder and he was very impressed to see mobilisation of the people and their commitment to discuss and resolve their problems on their own, he emphasised the need to develop infrastructure facilities in Pakistan for which the government had to play a major role.

The Keti Bunder Rural Growth Centre is the third-generation initiative of PPAF that consists of provision of infrastructure, water supply, sewerage, and water treatment, solid waste disposal system, improvement of educational and health facilities, fishing-related activity zone, street pavements, mangrove plantation, hard and soft landscaping, street lighting, a cricket ground and a children play area have been completed. The project is being implemented by PPAF partner organisation Aga Khan Planning and Building Services.

Spread over 771km of area there are 195 villages around Keti Bunder where a vast majority of people live below poverty line.