World Bank pledges to further strengthen cooperation with Pakistan
April 26, 2019
BEIJING: The World Bank on Friday pledged to further strengthen cooperation with Pakistan, in a meeting between Prime Minister Imran Khan and the lender’s top official on the sidelines of the second Belt and Road Forum in Beijing, China.
World Bank chief executive officer Kristalina Georgieva assured of further strengthening cooperation with Pakistan in the areas of disbursements programme lending and guaranteed provision for raising external funds, a press release stated.
Prime Minister Imran informed the CEO about the recent steps taken by his government to improve the country’s economic and fiscal situation. He also apprised the official about the socioeconomic measures taken by the government, including launch of the ‘Ehsaas’ social welfare programme, to lift the people out of poverty.
The premier appreciated the role played by the World Bank in regional connectivity, poverty alleviation, financial management, provisional projects, DASU and other infrastructure projects and ease of doing business.
He was accompanied by the foreign minister and advisers on finance and commerce.
In his keynote address at the Belt and Road Forum earlier today, Prime Minister Imran said Pakistan and China were entering the next phase of the multi-billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor which would focus on lifting people out of poverty.
“We are expanding the frontiers of knowledge through deeper cooperation in the fields of education, innovation and technology. [Under] CPEC, special economic zones will be set up,” the premier said.
Putting forward five points to further expand the Belt and Road Initiative, the prime minister said joint efforts were needed to mitigate the adverse impact of climate change, establish Belt and Road Initiative tourism corridors to promote people-to-people and intercultural understanding, anti-corruption efforts, poverty alleviation fund and concerted efforts to further liberalise trade and investment.
