ISLAMABAD: The newly appointed World Bank Country Director for Pakistan, Patchamuthu Illangovan called on Finance Minister, Mohammad Ishaq Dar here.
The Federal Finance Minister Dar welcomed Patchamuthu Illangovan to Pakistan and assured him of full support and cooperation during his tenure.
The new Country Director conveyed to the Finance Minister warm regards from World Bank President and Managing Director and lauded the overall reforms introduced by Pakistan, especially in the energy sector. He also conveyed their appreciation for the dynamism with which the Finance Minister led the energy sector and growth reforms.
Patchamuthu Illangovan on this occasion exchanged views with the Finance Minister on the ongoing and planned funding by World Bank for various projects in Pakistan. Patchamuthu Illangovan said that Pakistan had already qualified for IBRD funding due to its remarkable economic performance and it was important now to open financing as soon as possible and identify projects for the process.
The Finance Minister welcomed the plans of World Bank to draw up guidelines for IBRD financing. Finance Minister said that the Prime Minister accorded great importance to promoting regional connectivity. In that vein the Minister discussed with Patchamuthu projects of regional connectivity including Torkham-Jalalabad road project as well as CASA-1000.
Further he hoped that Mr. Patchamuthu Illangovan would contribute his best for further strengthening Pak-World Bank cooperation for various development projects.