ISLAMABAD, May 13: World Bank President James D. Wolfensohn on Monday said that terrorism was not a unique problem in Pakistan and it must be seen in the global context.

Talking to reporters after a meeting with President Gen Pervez Musharraf, the World Bank chief said that though Pakistan had a terrible terrorist act in Karachi, Islamabad was taking a strong and powerful position in the fight against terrorism which was being appreciated by the international community.

“Pakistan is not the only place that has terrorist acts,” he said, adding that such acts were taking place at many places. He hoped that when things moved forward and global situation settled down there would be restoration of investors’ confidence everywhere, including Pakistan.

Mr Wolfensohn praised the government’s reforms agenda as well as devolution of power to the local government level. He said he himself had witnessed this during his visit to the NWFP and added that there was a more transparent application of powers, including financial powers.

Mr Wolfensohn said he was impressed by the steps that President Musharraf and the government of Pakistan had taken and added that the Bank would be giving full support to Pakistan.

The World Bank chief said he had agreed with Gen Musharraf over the priority being given to education, health and poverty alleviation.

He said the World Bank was more than ready to work with the federal and provincial government to support the social sector programmes. He said this would be one of the main items of strengthening relationship between the World Bank and the Pakistan government.

Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz described the talks as important. He said the World Bank was expected to offer very concessional loans totalling about $1 billion to Pakistan this year to be used for education, health and poverty alleviation.

Mr Aziz said the World Bank president had visited the NWFP and tribal areas earlier in the day and reviewed a number of ongoing schemes.