Loan plan

On January 15, reports emerged that the World Bank board has approved a $20 billion loan package for Pakistan under a 10-year plan to boost Pakistan’s economy. According to the ‘framework document’ (FD), the loan shall attempt to target key areas like clean energy, education (especially in the rural areas), child nutrition, and climate resilience, aiming to ensure sustainable development and growth for Pakistan in the next two decades. I would urge the government of Pakistan to take the loan completely and as early as possible because the social sectors and the climate resilience sectors of the country need to be improved immediately and immensely.

To that end, I would urge the authorities to set up a dedicated national coordination centre composed of bureaucrats and sociologists and other technical staff to monitor and control the disbursements of these loans so that the end-result is the most desired one. Everyone should chip in to ensure that the set goals and targets associated with the framework document are realised on a war-footing.

Abbas R Siddiqi

Lahore