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| India-Pakistan |
| 6.5 billion in World Bank cash for Pakistan |
| 2006-06-02 |
| Pakistan is to receive up to $6.5bn (£3.5bn) from the World Bank under a new four-year assistance programme. At least $1bn will go on reconstruction after last October's earthquake which killed more than 73,000 people and left 3.3 million others homeless. The aid is more than double the $2.73bn Pakistan received from the bank between 2002 and 2005. Transport and energy, key areas in sustaining growth and tackling poverty, will see considerable spending. Sustained growth World Bank country director John Wall said the money was to help Pakistan prosper. "The country has moved from crisis to growth, laying the groundwork for sustained economic growth and significant poverty reduction," he said. He added the bank would "substantially ramp up support to Pakistan and focus on the areas that are most critical for the country's poor and most vulnerable". Pakistan's economy grew by 3.3% on average between 1997 and 2002 and in 2004-2005 it expanded 8.4%. But its growth, while encouraging, was not assured, said Praful Patel, World Bank's vice president for the South Asia region. "Sustained growth will require continued sound macroeconomic management along with further improvements in the investment climate and faster progress in improving the quality of life for all Pakistani citizens, especially women," Mr Patel added. |
| Posted by:john |
| #3 Remember Paul Wolfowitz is in charge of the World Bank. I would suggest that it is a simple equation: 1) Perv has only a tenuous hold on power. He is just the biggest dog in a pack, full of other dogs waiting to take over. 2) He really wants to be in control of his whole country. No more little enclaves where they make trouble under the protection of some other dog. 3) With the aid the US has given him so far, he has strengthened his military, and purged a lot of disloyals from it and the ISI. Still way far from perfect. 4) He has also made considerable effort in both the Wazoos and Baluchistan. This is a high-risk effort on his part. The performance of the military in these regions is a LOT better than it used to be, and they keep getting stronger. 5) Eventually, we might give him Iranian Baluchistan. It is a potentially very rich region, full of resources that Pakistan could use. And for once, he could finally stop the Baluchs from making civil war on him. Lotta payback. 6) Lastly, Pakistan does have nuclear weapons. This means that instability is no longer an option, as some other nuclear power would have to get in there like a shot to keep them falling into the wrong hands. This is James Bond time, which is something everybody wants to avoid. |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2006-06-02 20:27 |
| #2 Make its disbursement contingent upon the capture and turnover of bin Laden. |
| Posted by: Zenster 2006-06-02 19:39 |
| #1 Money and weapons... Perv must be ecstatic... |
| Posted by: john 2006-06-02 17:58 |