World Bank approves $800m loan
Funds will help government finance budget deficit
The World Bank board approved $400 million PACE loan only after the government accepted at least six prior conditions. PHOTO: AFP
ISLAMABAD:
The World Bank has approved $800 million in loans to finance Pakistan’s budget deficit after the government accepted conditions like increasing electricity prices to reduce circular debt and giving targeted subsidies - measures the lender said would increase poverty in the country.
The board of directors of the World Bank approved financing for two programmes - Pakistan Programme for Affordable and Clean Energy (PACE) and the second Securing Human Investments to Foster Transformation (SHIFT-II), totalling $800 million, stated the World Bank.