ADB team arrives to discuss water projects

Published December 11, 2001

ISLAMABAD, Dec 10: A country mission of the Asian Development Bank arrived here on Monday to hold negotiations with Pakistani authorities on two water sector umbrella projects.

The projects are $785 million National Drainage Programme and $200 million second flood protection programme, official sources told Dawn .

The mission during its three-day stay here would hold meetings with senior officials of the economic affairs division, planning commission, ministries of finance and water and power besides provincial irrigation authorities and Wapda high-ups.

The national drainage programme has been delaying continuously for a couple of years mainly because of hurdles in the institutional reforms in the four provinces.

The second flood protection programme is a part of a two- phased programme, first part of which has already been completed. The second phase was already under discussion but devastating floods early this year accelerated negotiations process.