LAHORE, Oct 24: The World Bank says Punjab is a role model for other provinces with regard to development projects, asserting the provincial government has shown ‘scintillating’ performance in timely and transparent completion of uplift projects.

This was stated by bank’s Country Director Rasheed Bin Masood in a meeting with senior Punjab officers here on Wednesday to review ongoing development projects, said one of the participants.

He quoted the banker as saying that utilisation of development funds by the provincial government was quite satisfactory and that the World Bank would continue its cooperation for the completion of these projects.

“The World Bank is ready to provide funds for development projects in Punjab and all necessary cooperation will be extended to ensure completion of on-going projects,” Masood assured the meeting.

The international lending agency is presently extending funds for the Punjab Municipal Services Improvement Project, Jinnah Barrage and Rehabilitation of other barrages, Land Record Management and Information System Project, Punjab Irrigated Agricultural Productivity Improvement Programme, Punjab Education Sector Reforms Project and Punjab Citizens Governance Improvement Project.

PSDF: Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said the Punjab Skill Development Fund (PSDF) was successfully operating in South Punjab district and its scope would be extended soon throughout the province.

He said 15,000 low-income persons had been imparted skills so far through the fund, out of which 40 per cent were women.

Speaking at a briefing session of the fund here on Wednesday, he directed to form a committee to solve the matters relating to PSDF and exploring the possibility of establishing a Youth Skills Development Authority.

Head of Department for International Development (DFID) UK, in Pakistan George Turkington, President of DFID Economic Growth Group, Alex Ferren, Lead Advisor Punjab Economic Opportunity Forum, Fatima Afzal, secretaries of Industries, Planning and Development, Chief Executive Officer PSDF Ali Sarfraz, Sara Saeed, Dr Ijaz Nabi and Almas Haider were also present.

The chief minister said the efficiency of fund could be further augmented through a close coordination and cooperation among the institutions concerned.