Islamabad: The World Bank has released USD 2.41 billion out of agreed loans worth USD 7.636 billion to Pakistan for various development projects, a news source reported. This was stated in a report presented during a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Planning, Development and Reforms.
The committee meeting presided over by Senator Agha Shahzaib Khan Durrani deliberated on the contents of the report and discussed progress on the ongoing development projects across the country.
According to the report, the international lender has pledged USD 1.114 billion for Tarbela 4th Extension Hydropower project, out of which USD 534.31 million has been released. It has also released USD 176.23 million out of USD 588.4 million for Dasu Hydropower project.
For Sindh water projects, the bank has pledged a total of USD 283 million out of which USD 215.62 million has been released. It has also given USD 213.288 million out of the pledged USD 380 million for Punjab irrigation project, USD 64 million out of USD 300 million for Third Punjab Education Sector project, and USD 46.966 million out of USD 100 million for the province’s health sector.
To facilitate disaster management projects, the international lender has released USD 41 million out of its pledged amount worth USD 125 million, while USD 5.82 million has so far been released out of USD 200 million to cater to water-related projects in Balochistan.
Moreover, the World Bank has also pledged USD 425 million for modern transmission projects, USD 400 million for Public Financial Management and Accountability to Support Service Delivery, USD 188 million for Pakistan Hydromel and DRM Service project, USD 400 million for Sindh’s education sector, USD 50 million to develop tourism sector in the Punjab province, USD 200 million for Punjab Green Development Programme and USD 200 million for Punjab Safe Cities Programme.
