Pakistan signs agreements worth $305m with World Bank

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Islamabad, Feb. 2 (TNS): Pakistan has signed agreements worth 305 million dollars with the World Bank, state media reported.

Agreements to support projects in agriculture sector in Punjab and to improve the nutrition status of children as well as women in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were signed in Islamabad on Friday.

The first agreement worth 300 million dollars loan pertains to Strengthening Markets for Agriculture and Rural Transformation in Punjab.

The SMART Punjab program is aimed to help the provincial government to promote transformational change in the crop and livestock sectors.

The second agreement worth 5 million dollars grant pertains to  additional financing to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for the Enhanced Nutrition for Mothers and Children Project.

The objectives of the grant are to scale-up nutrition intervention in the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to improve the nutritional status of children under two years of age, as well as pregnant and lactating women.

Secretary, Economic Affairs Division Arif Ahmed Khan signed the Loan and Grant Agreements on behalf of Government of Pakistan while Country Director Patchamuthu Illangovan signed the Loan and Grant Agreements on behalf of World Bank.

The Secretary, Economic Affairs Division thanked the World Bank for extending its continuous support to the Government of Pakistan in its efforts to achieve sustainable economic development in the country.