World Bank lends $100 million for more jobs in Punjab

ISLAMABAD (APP) - The World Bank has approved a loan of $100 million to improve the investment climate in Punjab and create more and better jobs, thus reducing unemployment and poverty in Pakistan. This will be the first IBRD loan after Pakistan became eligible again.

The Punjab government's Jobs and Competitiveness Program will undertake reforms to reduce the cost and risks of doing business, improve laws affecting labour, in particular to encourage women's employment, Washington Post reported.

Women's labor force participation will be increased by reforming discriminatory policies, for example the Factory Act, which restricts women's employment in manufacturing. Additional support services in industrial estates, such as daycare and transport facilities for working women, are also planned.

The program will promote private sector-led development by making it easier to register a new business, getting construction permits, property registration and contract enforcement.

"There are one million new entrants to the labour force every year in Punjab. It is extremely important to increase domestic and foreign investment to ensure that there are more and better jobs especially for youth and women," says Illango Patchamuthu, World Bank Country Director for Pakistan.

The program aims to build the capacity and systems for supporting infrastructure such as industrial estates and central effluent treatment plants through public-private partnerships. It will also support industrial clusters with high growth potential.

"This program will help the government coordinate and leverage scarce public funds for maximum impact in supporting industrial infrastructure and growth," Fatima Shah says, World Bank Co-Task Team Leader of the Program.

"Entrepreneurs and workers will both benefit from increased social and environmental compliance as well as technological upgrading which will increase productivity as well as market access to global buyers," Vincent Palmade, World Bank Co-Task Team Leader of the Program said.

This loan from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) is a variable spread loan with a maturity of 18.5 years, including a grace period of 4.5 years.