World Bank raises aid for Pak floods

The World Bank has raised its emergency funding to Pakistan to one billion dollars to help the nation cope with the massive economic impact of catastrophic monsoon flooding. The hike, an additional 100 million dollars on top of an existing 900 million dollar loan, was announced by World Bank chief Robert Zoellick as he met Pakistan Finance Minister Hafeez Shaikh in Washington.
Meanwhile, a senior Pakistani diplomat has called for an inquiry into allegations that rich landowners diverted water into unprotected villages in the recent flooding to save their own crops. A government minister is among those accused. UN ambassador Abdullah Hussain Haroon said there was evidence that landowners had allowed embankments to burst. He said this led to waters flowing away from their land. More than 1,600 people have died in the floods, which have affected about 17 million people.

No related posts.