ISLAMABAD: The World Bank approved $150 million for a project to increase the participation rates of girls and boys in pre-primary and primary grades and enhance reading proficiency in primary grades in Punjab Province.

The project is expected to directly benefit approximately 5 million children, 7,000 headteachers, 165,000 teachers, and more than 3,000 teacher mentors in public schools as well as Punjab Education Foundation schools.

“Punjab has more than 7 million out-of-school children. The grades will help the government of Punjab substantially reduce this number and, in parallel, improve foundational learning outcomes for boys and girls who are already in school,” said Najy Benhassine, World Bank Country Director for Pakistan. “This will be done through scaling up and strengthening public-private partnerships, improving school preparedness among young children, enhancing the quality and use of teaching and learning materials and assessments, and improving the learning environment in schools.”

Earlier, World Bank (WB) has approved additional financing to the tune of $ 1 billion for Dasu Hydropower Project, being constructed by WAPDA on River Indus.

This is the single largest financial facility provided by the World Bank for a project in Pakistan.

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World Bank approves additional $1b for Dasu Hydropower Project  

ISLAMABAD: The World Bank (WB) has approved additional financing to the tune...

This facility comprises concessional financing through the World Bank arms of IDA and IBRD.