Recognising that infrastructure development and rehabilitation emerged as a priority area for Pakistan, ADB vice-president Liquin Jin said the bank is providing assistance in irrigation, roads, and urban centres, as well as addressing critical gaps in the power sector. Addressing the inaugural session of the two-day PDF meeting here on Monday, the ADB vice-president said in addition to $840 million in assistance for transport sector during 2001-04, the bank will provide an additional $2.7 billion for the infrastructure sector during 2005-08.
According to him, the bank, in co-ordination with the Japanese government, is preparing a special assistance package for the urban renewal and development of Karachi to improve services for the 14 million residents of this city.
He said reducing poverty is a major priority of the government and the ADB, is working on an innovative rural modernisation approach.
To this end, the bank's involvement would promote private sector investment, improve access to SMEs services and financing in rural areas.
Besides, the ADB's strategic focus on social sectors will continue to support progress towards attainment of MDGs.
Referring to the ADB's continued support for governance reforms and the ongoing Access to Justice Program (AJP), he said the bank has Decentralisation Support Programme (DSP) and the provincial Resource Management Programmes. The ADB is also providing support for the second-generation reforms.
He pointed out that it is critical to complete the federal-to-provincial devolution process. It is also important to introduce civil service reforms to address management issues at the district, provincial, and federal level to strengthen the devolution process.
It should be recognised that reassignment of responsibilities through devolution has not been fully achieved in some areas and this issue should be addressed.