World Bank agrees to provide financing for Dasu dam: Hafeez

The World Bank has allocated an unprecedented amount of $1.8 billion for Pakistan''s development projects, mainly in energy sector, in the current year, Finance Minister Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh said after holding a meeting with Vice President of the World Bank Isabel Guerrero.
Pakistan''s ambassador to the United States Sherry Rehman also attended the meeting, which took place during the IMF-World Bank annual spring gathering of economic leaders from around the world. The World Bank has also expressed agreement to assist with financing for a Dasu dam, to be built in Kohistan area on Indus River with a 1500MW power generation capacity. The World Bank Board has already approved power generation enhancement project.
"This is a big sign of confidence in Pakistan''s ability to accomplish development for its people that the World Bank is allocating an unprecedented amount in one year," Dr Shaikh said. The amount, follows last year''s $1.2 billion assistance, and will be spent on upgradation and completion of development projects in energy and water sectors as well as infrastructure, social and reforms programs. The World Bank vice president was appreciative of Pakistan''s economic performance in these difficult times of global economic and regional challenges," the finance minister told APP.
The World Bank leader expressed satisfaction with the measures Islamabad has taken to enhance its revenue generation (which has increased by 25 per cent over the last nine months), the continuing strong performance of the external sector, both exports and remittances and a healthy 4 percent GDP growth expected this year.
For his part, Dr Shaikh acknowledged the World Bank''s sustained co-operation with Pakistan, calling the financial institution a reliable development partner of Pakistan. He particularly thanked Vice President Isabel Guerrero''s leadership and lauded the dedication of World Bank Pakistan country team headed by Executive Director Javed Talat.
Pakistan''s ambassador to the United States Sherry Rehman said it is heartening to see the international financial institutions'' expression of faith in Pakistan''s commitment to development. "This signifies that both the international community and the financial institutions have a growing confidence in Pakistan''s dedication and ability to realise development for its people," she said.
The meeting was also attended by top Pakistani economic managers including Secretary Finance Abdul Wajid Rana, Secretary Economic Affairs Division, Dr Waqar Masood, Governor State Bank Yaseen Anwar, Deputy Chairman Planning Commission, Dr Nadeem, Economic Minister at the Pakistani embassy in Washington Mohsin Mushtaq Chandana, Executive Director for Pakistan at the World Bank, Talat Javed and Pakistan Director for IMF, Saleem Sethi.