Govt focusing on equitable development of marginalised regions: Bakhtiar

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Reform, Makhdoom Khusro Bakhtyar on Tuesday said that the government focused on equitable development of marginalised regions of the country including Balochistan, South Punjab and merged districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).

Khusro Bakhtiar made the statement during a meeting with the World Bank’s Country Director, Patchamuthu Illangovan, who called on him at Islamabad on Tuesday. Secretary Planning Zafar Hasan, Secretary Economic Affairs Division Noor Ahmed, Member of Infrastructure Malik Ahmed Khan and senior officials of the Planning Ministry were also present in the meeting.

The minister said that the World Bank could extend cooperation in specified areas with Pakistan by financing various projects for these regions.

Bakhtiar appreciated WB’s role in socio-economic development of the country, saying that strategies were being devised to uplift the neglected areas of the country. He added that that the government will accord priority to the development of less privileged sections during the next five years.

The Government will allocate resources for intermediate city development programme to develop new urban centres to mitigate migration pressures on big cities besides expanding regional growth centres.

Illangovan said that the World Bank will continue its contribution to the development of Pakistan. He also provided a briefing on projects financed by the institution in collaboration with the federal and provincial governments.