Vice President of World Bank Praful Patel on Wednesday assured full co-operation and assistance to Pakistan for rehabilitation and reconstruction work in the damaged areas due to devastated October 8 earthquake.
Praful Patel, who called on Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz here at Prime Minister House, said the WB would be one of the biggest contributors in the November 19 international donors' conference being held here.
John A Roome, Director Operations, Dr Shantayamen Devraj, Chief Executive South Asia and World Bank Country Director John Wall, Minister of State for Economic Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar and Advisor to Prime Minister on Finance Dr Salman Shah were also present on the occasion.
Talking to newsmen after the meeting with Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, the Vice President of WB said the Bank had already announced a support of dollars 470 million to help Pakistan in its rehabilitation and reconstruction work in the damaged areas.
He assured that the WB would provide significant funding for the reconstruction work being done by Pakistan in next three to five years.
Praful Patel said he discussed in detail with Prime Minister Aziz about the support and contribution of WB in the relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction programme of Pakistan and also exchanged views on the preliminary assessment, prepared in this regard.
He said, "the World Bank will provide full support and assistance to Pakistan to rebuild the damaged structures and revive normal life in the quake-affected areas."
He said the assistance of the WB would be at very low interest rates. Appreciating the contribution of other international donors, organisations and particularly the private sector, the WB Vice President said, the Bank would also motivate them to provide further assistance to Pakistan.
He said the basic role of the World Bank was to provide framework for helping Pakistan in its gigantic work of rehabilitation and reconstruction.
The WB Vice President, who also visited the quake-affected areas, appreciated the role of Pakistan Army for providing relief and helping the quake victims using all possible means of transport, including helicopters and mules.
The Prime Minister during the meeting thanked the WB for its support and assistance. Referring to international donors' conference being held on November 19, the Prime Minister said Pakistan would seek soft loans and grants besides sponsorship to rebuild villages, houses, hospitals, schools and even entire towns.
He also thanked the World Bank and other international organisations for providing technical and moral support to Pakistan in this hour of need.
He said the government was working on a five-year plan to rebuild the affected areas and added that due to colossal damage, entire villages and towns have to be rebuilt and redesigned instead of reconstruction.
The Prime Minister said due to rugged mountain and damaged roads, it was very difficult to provide relief to the affected people but the government with the help of international community had been providing help and assistance to each and every person affected due to earthquake.
Referring to international support, the Prime Minister said, "I am satisfied what we have got but we need more."
He said relief teams from 60 countries were present in the affected areas and 32 field hospitals were working while relief is being provided through all possible means.
The Prime Minister said the world had not realised the magnitude of the loss incurred due to October 8 earthquake, and added Pakistan still needed more help and assistance for rehabilitation and reconstruction work.
He said the response of the donors from the world was not in accordance with the loss caused by the earthquake.
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