| The World Bank (WB) has refused a $102 million loan to Pakistan for the provision of telecommunication services to rural areas, a private TV channel reported on Tuesday. After the refusal, the Universal Service Fund Committee would provide money for the project, the channel reported. The bank also delayed the approval of a $100 million loan for the Higher Education Commission until January 21, 2010. The channel said the bank had turned down the requests after the government failed to meet its conditions. Top WB officials would discuss the modalities of a $630.4 million loan for the National Express Base Project. |