Pakistan
World Bank envoy meets Pakistani high-ups
World Bank (WB) South Asia Vice President Hartwig Schafer Tuesday called on Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue, Shaukat Tarin in Islamabad.
In the meeting, the Finance Minister acknowledged the significant contribution of the World Bank in the socio-economic development of the country since the 1950s.
Mr Tarin welcomed the World Bank Group's proposed $12 billion initiative to help developing countries procure COVID-19 shots to treat up to 1 billion people.
The Finance Minister appreciated the pivotal role currently being played by the World Bank in strengthening governance and service delivery in Pakistan through institutional reforms being undertaken with the support of development partners.
The Vice President thanked the Finance Minister for a warm welcome and said that World Bank greatly values its partnership with Pakistan and supports the reform agenda undertaken by the present government.
He also acknowledged the efforts made by Pakistan for effective management of the COVID-19 crisis.
He said that the WB is fully committed to assisting the developing countries for the procurement of the COVID-19 vaccines and the purpose, 150 million dollars have been re-allocated for Pakistan by the Bank.
The Vice President also praised Pakistan's commitment to a cleaner and greener environment and said that the reform momentum had to be sustained in the country.
The Finance Minister shared with the World Bank team that Pakistan would welcome the knowledge of the World Bank team to promote the skills of the IT graduates in the country.
The World Bank team conveyed their willingness for providing guidance and informed that the Bank is preparing an operation on the digital economy with the Ministry of Information Technology.
In his concluding remarks, the Finance Minister thanked the delegation for World Bank's continued guidance and collaboration on various development projects.
Meeting with Dr Sania Nishtar
In another meeting, Hartwig Schafer met with Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection Sania Nishtar.
Both sides discussed the importance of the Ehsaas program and its critical role during Pakistan’s pandemic response.
The two sides discoursed ways to make Ehsaas and the Benazir Income Support Program even stronger.
Meeting with Asad Umar
After meeting Federal Minister for Planning, Development & Special Initiatives and NCOC (National Command and Operation Center) head Asad Umar, World Bank South Asia Vice President said that he ‘felt great to reconnect with the minister’.
On the occasion, he also congratulated Asad Umar for praised Pakistan's management of COVID-19.
“I reassured him of Bank’s support in face of a pandemic, including in terms of financing WHO-approved vaccines, & strengthening Government's planning function.”