|
| | GEO Business | | Tareen meets WB President, Zoellick | Updated at: 1132 PST, Monday, April 27, 2009
WASHINGTON: Pakistan's top finance and economic affairs adviser Shaukat Tareen met with World Bank President Robert Zoellick, who lauded the South Asian country's successful economic stabilization efforts and assured of the institution's continued support.
Tareen, who is leading a delegation of Pakistani economic managers to the WB-IMF annual spring meetings, also participated in the Development Committee meeting and discussed advancing US-Pakistan economic relations with senior State Department officials.
The Bank assured to align next country assistance strategy (2010-2013) with priorities identified by Pakistan, officials told. The World Bank also assured that given the sustainability of macroeconomic reforms and economic stabilization, it would resume International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) lending, which will finance priority infrastructure in addition to front loading International Development Assistance (IDA) concession lending.
The adviser and members of the delegation also had meetings with Jacob J Lew, Deputy Secretary for Management and Resources, US Department of State and the Under Secretary (Designate) for International Affairs. The Pakistani delegation urged the need for fast-tracking enactment of Kerry-Lugar Act on $ 1.5 billion annual assistance for Pakistan as well a measure to authorize Reconstruction of Opportunities Zones in the country.
The Pakistani delegation also met with Vice Minister of Finance, Peoples Republic of China and Iranian Finance Minister on the sidelines of the global forum. The Pakistani officials apprised their counterparts and international financial institution leaders of the country's economic stabilization and reform programs.
|  |
|
|
| |
