Thar Coal and Power Technical Assistance’: WB body to consider $26 million aid

[LahoreEstate]

ISLAMABAD: The executive board of the World Bank (WB) will consider Thar Coal and Power Technical Assistance worth $26 million for Pakistan in its meeting scheduled for April 22, 2009.

According to the Monthly Operational Summary for the month of April based on status as of March 15 on proposed lending programme of the WB for Pakistan. WB would hold consultation in first phase on the proposed programmes and projects and their approval is subject to the clearance by WB Pakistan office and executive board at final stage.

Thar Coal and Power Technical Assistance worth $26 million will help Pakistan and the Sindh province strengthen the enabling policy, legal and regulatory frameworks conducive to new investments in the coal-to-energy sector.

The project also aims at assisting the governments of Sindh and Pakistan to attract qualified private investors to develop Thar coal deposits and build new capacity for coal thermal power generation, guided by high standards of environmental and social sustainability.

Education: Higher Education Support Programme worth $100 million from International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) is also in the pipeline to support the government of Pakistan’s higher rducation medium-term development framework to foster public-private partnership in the delivery of higher education and to provide substantial technical support to the client in developing a reasonable financing plan consistent with the macro-framework of the country.

Sindh Education Reform: The objectives are to improve participation, retention and transition rates, reduce gender and regional disparities, and improve quality in elementary and secondary education (grades 1-10).

Energy and mining: Mineral Sector Technical Assistance worth $50 million is for implementing a strategy to accelerate sustainable mineral sector development by strengthening governance, transparency, and capacity in the management of mineral resources.

Information and communication: Rural Telecommunications and e-Service project worth $124 million from IBRD to: (a) accelerate access to communications in un-served and underserved areas by using targeted subsidies for rural expansion, (b) strengthen legal, policy, regulatory and spectrum management and © monitor functions and expansion of e-services. Project preparation is underway.

Law and justice: Second Sindh Structural Adjustment project worth $100 million aims at implementing reforms to improve fiscal and financial management, governance, public service delivery, and the state’s regulatory framework. Project preparation is underway.

Social protection: Support to Safety Nets project worth $50 million is to support the effective strengthening of implementation and monitoring mechanisms for delivery of cash transfer programmes. Project preparation is underway.

Transportation: National Trade Corridor Improvement Programme worth $200 million from IBRD is also under consideration aiming at enhancing export competitiveness by reducing the cost of trade and transport logistics and bringing service quality to international standards. Project preparation is underway.

Urban development: Punjab Large Cities Development Policy project worth $100 from IBRD is also in the pipeline. The objective is to promote economic growth in the major cities through strategic planning, integrated infrastructure investments, and efficient urban service delivery. Project preparation is underway.

Water and sanitation: Second Punjab Barrages Rehabilitation and Modernization worth $120 million from IBRD is under consideration. The objective is to prevent the occurrence of disastrous barrages failure and ensure their sustainable use, providing improved and reliable irrigation and drinking water supplies. Decision meeting scheduled for June 1, 2009. staff report

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