‘Energy shortage, terror war major challenges’

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minster Nawaz Sharif Monday said that energy shortage and war against militancy are major challenges that the country is faced with and every possible effort is being undertaken to meet these challenges.A delegation led by Jin Yong Cai, Executive Vice President of International Finance Corporation (IFC), a constituent body of the World Bank, met the prime minister here at the PM’s House.
Nawaz appreciated World Bank’s continuous engagement with Pakistan that spans over half a century and acknowledged its valuable support towards many important areas such as rural development, public sector development, infrastructure development, roads, ports, railways, dams, social development including health, education water and sanitation besides power sector.
He acknowledged IFC’s current focus on energy sector to complement government’s efforts towards meeting energy requirements of the country and appreciated that World Bank’s largest energy portfolio in the world is in Pakistan.
He said that infrastructure development, social sector development, good governance, uninterrupted, affordable and clean energy are some of the major priority areas of the government. He said the government has put in place an investor-friendly regime in the country and is facilitating both local as well as foreign investors to attract investment in all areas of economy especially energy, infrastructure development.
Jin Yong Cai assured the prime minister of IFC’s continued engagement with the country for strengthening economy, the energy sector as well as other areas having direct bearing on socio-economic betterment of the people of Pakistan. He also expressed grief over the tragic Peshawar incident.
Other members of the delegation included Mouayed Makhlouf, Regional Director, Middle East North Africa, Rachid Benmessaoud, Country Director, World Bank Pakistan, and Nadeem A Siddiqui, Senior Manager, IFC Pakistan.Minister for Finance Ishaq Dar and Pakistan’s Executive Director in the World Bank Nasir Mahmood Khan Khosa were also present during the meeting.