ISLAMABAD: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Saturday assured Pakistan of its financial and technical assistance for the development of energy sector, Dispatch News Desk (DND) reported.
“The ADB will provide financial and technical assistance for the energy sector and will continue its assistance to Pakistan,” the ADB’s Country Director Dr. Werner-Liepach said.
A delegation of ADB headed by its country Director Dr. Werner-Liepach who called on Finance Minister Senator Muhammad Ishaq Dar in Islamabad on Saturday.
During the meeting, the Finance Minister asked the ADB to cooperate Pakistan in the construction of Diamer-Bhasha Dam. He also asked for the Bank’s cooperation in the energy sector of Pakistan.
Dar said that serious efforts are underway to improve the country’s economy. He said we seek cooperation of ADB to bring improvement in our economy.
Meanwhile, in a meeting with Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Engineer Shaukatullah Khan held in Islamabad on Saturday, the finance minister said that despite the financial crunch, the federal government will duly discharge its fiscal duties towards the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata), which remains the most underdeveloped region of the country and a frontline territory in the war against terrorism.
“All political parties must work together in order to resolve the country’s economic problems,” the minister said.
The finance minister vowed that the federal government will fulfill its responsibilities with regard to the troubled region which received only 82 per cent funds of the Annual Development Program against the total allocation during the previous financial year.
Dar said the federal government has paid off 67 per cent of the circular debt, while the remaining amount will also be paid before the deadline.