The World Bank says it would provide a $1.5 billion enhanced assistance to Pakistan for its development sector and endorsed its economic reform agenda. After meeting Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and his economic team, the visiting World Bank President, Paul Wolfowitz, termed the development assistance a substantial increase for Pakistan. The assistance will be used for poverty alleviation, more resources for women development and education, Wolfowitz said in a statement after these meetings. He appreciated Pakistan's "wonderful 8 per cent growth" achieved, but said the challenge was to sustain it and to have equitable distribution for the poorest segments. Prime Minister Aziz termed the increase "wonderful" and said it was already assisting the country in human development, water and power generation and providing it advisory and financial services. Aziz said the World Bank and Pakistan were partners in development and he looked forward to take Pakistan forward in infrastructure development with its assistance. The prime minister said he has discussed Pakistan's economic progress, development and its future plans. Wolfowitz is on a visit to the South Asian countries which will also take him to Bangladesh and India. He said Pakistan was an important country in the developing world with enormous potential. He was appreciative of the "sound economic policies" of the government and said government's economic team was very dedicated. --more 1311 Local Time 1011 GMT
