Overview of ADB Assistance
As of 31 December 2004, ADB's total loan commitment to the Pakistan since commencement of its operations in 1968, comprised 239 public sector loans amounting to $14.3 billion, out of which $7.4 billion (51.7 percent) is from the Ordinary Capital Resources (OCR) and $6.9 billion (48.3 percent) is from the Asian Development Fund (ADF). Out of 239 loans, 61 loans covering 51 projects with net loan amount totaling $4.9 billion are ongoing. Of the total loan amount of $4.9 billion, 42 percent is from ADF.
As of 31 December 2004, the sectoral composition of ADB's assistance to Pakistan was 21.5 percent for energy sector, 20.9 percent for the agriculture & natural resources, 13.2 percent for finance sector, 11.3 percent for transport and communications, 9.4 percent for multisector, 9.0 percent for industry and trade, 6.9 percent for Law, Economic Management, and Public Policy, 3.5 percent for education, 2.7 percent for water supply, sanitation, and waste management, and 1.6 percent for Health, Nutrition, and social protection.
A cumulative of 293 technical assistance (TA) projects has been approved by ADB for Pakistan with a total amount of $138.65 million as of 31 December 2004. Presently, there are 62 TAs under implementation with a total amount $53.6 million.
TopCountry Strategy and Program
The Country Strategy and Program (CSP) is prepared in active consultation with developing member country stakeholders: the government, NGO, civil society groups, the private sector and other development agencies. It is usually prepared once every five years. A CSP Update is prepared every year to reflect any important country development and adjustments to the program.
The Country Strategy and Program Update (CSPU) 2006-2008 for Pakistan has been approved in September 2004 to guide ADB operations in Pakistan.
ADB and the Government of Pakistan
ADB appreciates and supports the difficult economic and governance reform agenda being implemented by the Government of Pakistan. These include
- trade reforms
- power sector reforms
- deregulation of the petroleum sector
- financial sector and capital market reforms
- devolution
- legal and judicial reforms
- agriculture
- small and medium enterprise
- rural finance/ micro finance
The adjustment costs of these reforms are significant and to this end ADB has provided quick disbursement assistance to mitigate the costs.
In the near-term, ADB looks forward to working with the Government on policies that need to focus on
- effective management of the water crisis
- creation of a level-playing field for acceleration of the privatization process
- continued expansion of the tax base
- rationalization of recurrent expenditures
- improvement in efficiency of public expenditures
- building capacity at the local level to support the ongoing devolution program
- working with the Government on improving and strengthening agriculture sector policies and strengthening the legal and judicial framework
Learn more about the ADB and Government of Pakistan partnership.