Country Director Asian Development Bank (ADB), Yong Ye, called on FederalMinister for Economic Affairs, Omar Ayub Khan, at the Ministry of EconomicAffairs, Islamabad, on Thursday.
Omar Ayub Khan congratulated Yong Ye on assuming the charge of ADB CountryDirector in Pakistan. In the meeting, the two sides discussed the jointendeavors of the Government of Pakistan and ADB, especially with referenceto the ADB’s technical and financial support to Pakistan, including thebank’s commitment of providing US$ 600 million for the Ehsaas Program underits under the ADB Country Operation Business Plan (2021-2023).
The ADB Country Director briefed the Minister on ADB’s portfolio inPakistan. He highlighted that ADB had committed to providing US$ 6.3billion under its Country Operation Business Plan (2021-2023) to Pakistan.He said ADB recently negotiated a new program with the Government ofPakistan for providing US$ 600 million for Integrated Social ProtectionDevelopment.
This program, he affirmed, will support the Pakistani government’s effortsto implement high priorities from its Ehsaas Program (social protection andpoverty reduction) in a coordinated, cohesive, and systematic manner. Underthis program, institutional capacity for social protection and climateresilience will also be strengthened.
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At present, Yong Ye said, 32 projects worth US$ 6.4 billion of varioussectors including energy, road and transport, agriculture and irrigation,urban services, education, health, and social protection are being executed.He added that access to primary and secondary education, health services,and nutrition supplies would be enhanced for women (especially mothers),adolescents, and children of poor families. He reiterated ADB’s commitmentto continuing its technical and financial support to the Government ofPakistan for priority areas.
