LCCI to help World Bank improve infrastructure

The Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) would extend all-out help to the World Bank (WB) for bringing improvement in infrastructure facilities in Pakistan. The LCCI President Mian Misbahur Rehman gave the assurance while talking to a five-member World Bank delegation headed by Peter D. Ellis, Senior Urban Economist of the bank. The meeting, which continued for well over an hour was also attended by the LCCI Executive Member Muhammad Younas Sheikh and former LCCI president Bashir A. Baksh.
The World Bank delegation consists of Patricia Clarke Annez, Urban Advisor, David E. Dowall, Director of Institute of Urban and Regional Development, Hubert Nove-Josserand, Senior Transport Specialist and Faiza Arshad, Research Analyst.
During the meeting, the LCCI president put forward a number of proposals for bringing improvement in infrastructure. He informed the World Bank team that Pakistan badly needs its funding for the transport sector because due to lack of proper transportation system, the country is suffering in a number of sectors.
He also invited attention of the delegation members towards the poor quality of potable water. With proper funding by the World Bank, new tube-well and transportation means could be put in place. Building of new water distribution system is another area, which should be given priority, he said. He further said that there is also a dire need for the repair and extension of sewerage systems and construction of new water treatment plants.
He said that lack of stakeholders' participation in planning, design and execution of projects are the key constraints. He said that there should be special focus on capacity building of women in future development plan, as 'elaborated role' of women in developmental schemes could produce good results.
Speaking on the occasion, the WB representative Peter D. Ellis said that Pakistani industrialists in general and the government in particular give some attention towards tourism sector, as this sector would be one of the top industries in the world.
He said that with a little attention towards the tourism sector, country could earn a lot of revenue. He also lauded the efforts of present government in bringing financial discipline in the country.
He said the reforms introduced by the government have started yielding results. He said the proposals forwarded by the LCCI president would go a long way in bringing desired improvement in the system.