ISLAMABAD, Sept 14: The visiting vice-president (operation) of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Myoung-Ho Shin, has said that the bank will support various programmes of the government to help generate pro-poor growth in Pakistan.

He stated this during his meeting with Commerce Minister Razak Dawood and Finance Secretary-General Moeen Afzal here on Saturday and commended the government for making economic progress over the last three years despite many adverse external and internal shocks.

Mr Shin praised the leadership of President Gen Pervez Musharraf and his commitment towards reforms, which, he said, had paid rich dividends in three years.

According to a statement, issued by the ministry of finance, the ADB vice-president particularly noted the progress made on external balance of payments, which, he said, was in a stronger position.

He expressed the hope that the economic policies and the reforms programme would continue beyond October 2002.

He stated that if the current policy stance was followed, the bank would enhance its support in Pakistan’s development efforts.

Mr Shin remarked that reducing poverty was an overarching goal of the ADB and that he was currently visiting the country to sign a poverty reduction strategy with the government of Pakistan for providing $2.7 billion assistance during 2003-05.

He said the reforms’ programmes the ADB was financing would create a conducive climate for the private sector to play its role in generating what he called “pro-poor growth”. Another important area in which the ADB would increase its funding was the social sector, he added.

The ADB official appreciated the government’s effort in increasing expenditure in the social sector but called for allocating more resources for the sector. He believed that efforts of the government could not succeed without improving governance.

Programmes, including decentralization, devaluation and access to justice and police reforms were supported by the ADB, he said. “Yet another area where the ADB will support Pakistan is to contain population growth to further reduce fertility rate as it helps arrest poverty.”

Mr Shin made it clear that more concessional assistance from the ADB would depend on the progress made in the economic and social sectors. “More ADB resources are possible if Pakistan performs reasonably well.”

He called for timely completion of the development projects, saying that the ADB would also support sub-regional cooperation.