The World Bank has already transferred $200 million to Pakistan from the $470 million announced earlier. "The rest will be available in a week or two." Bank sources said on Saturday the WB "will indicate further amounts" on November 19 at the donors conference in Islamabad.
The WB along with the ADB has completed its preliminary joint assessment on the needs and reconstruction costs of the damages inflicted by the massive October 8 earthquake.
Meanwhile, a US presidential delegation led by Ms Karen Hughes, Under-secretary of State for Public Diplomacy, embarks on a three-day (November 13-15) visit of the earthquake-hit region from Sunday to "survey the devastation" and "assess relief and reconstruction needs.