The World Bank's Board of Executive Directors has approved a $500 million programme to help Pakistan improve access to quality healthcare and education, support economic opportunities for women, and strengthen social safety nets as the country braces to limit the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

A statement issued here on Friday stated that the Securing Human Investments to Foster Transformation (SHIFT) programme will support policy reforms to help Pakistan's COVID-19 emergency response and protect human capital investments.

It will support greater coordination between provinces and federal authorities to immunize millions of children and reduce their risks of contracting polio and other diseases.-PR