Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif reiterated that government was focused on development of mega Dams all along the Indus cascade and small and medium dams in Balochistan to meet energy demands.
He made these views during meeting with a World Bank delegation led by its Chief Executive Officer Kristalina Georgieva in Islamabad.
Nawaz Sharif said Diamer-Bhasha Dam is a project of national importance as it will considerably change the energy mix, produce affordable electricity and store water.
He urged World Bank to play a lead role in resolution of water disputes between Pakistan and India through establishment of a Court of Arbitration.
The Prime Minister expressed gratitude for World Bank’s support for the return and rehabilitation of Temporarily Displaced Persons by providing 75 million dollars and informed that the return process of the TDPs is on fast track. He said the government is also spending huge resources from its own budget to rehabilitate the TDPs.
Nawaz Sharif said that the government is focused on economic revival and requires huge investments in energy, infrastructure and social protection.
He said Pakistan needs enhanced support of the development partners in energy, infrastructure particularly rail and roads network, education and skill development.
The Prime Minister said Pakistan highly places its partnership with the World Bank since 1952. He said Bank’s support in the energy sector projects including Tarbela-IV, Tarbela-V and Dasu Hydropower Projects are also valuable to Pakistan.
Kristalina Georgieva lauded Pakistan’s great progress in energy, infrastructure and overall economic stability.
She congratulated the prime minister on exceptional performance of Pakistan’s economic indicators and said that the World Bank will support all measures that will sustain the rate of economic growth.
