WB, govt discuss cooperation on Green Pakistan Programme

Islamabad: Jiang Ru of the World Bank on Friday discussed the financing option and institutional arrangements for Green Pakistan Programme with climate change minister Zahid Hamid.

During a meeting here, the World Bank official told the minister that the bank was willing to finance for initiatives related to livelihood improvements under Green Pakistan Program in Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhawa provinces initially.

He also pointed out that World Bank could provide support for capacity building at national level through Ministry of Climate Change from a minimum loan up to $100 million.

Also, the bank will explore possibility of seeking grant from green Climate fund and Green Environment Facility.

He also told the minister that their focus would be on Forest Resilient infrastructure, landscape management and forestry and economic management.

It was also suggested by the Jiang that Ministry of climate Change should provide some sort of incentives to provinces to increase their forest cover. He also told the minister that World Bank was also working on a project on watershed Management in Balochistan.

The minister said the New Forest Policy had been approved by the Council of Common Interest, which was also endorsed by provinces as well.  "We are also declaring marine protected areas in Pakistan," he said.