Pakistan's economy is showing signs of improvement but the country must strictly implement the reforms laid down by the military regime, a senior World Bank official said Saturday.
"It is for Pakistan's own benifit to ensure implementation of its ambitious reform agenda to create a good investment climate," World Bank Vice-President and Chief Economist Nicholas Stern said here.
Stern held a flurry of meetings with top Pakistani officials including military ruler general Pervez Musharraf and finance minister Shaukat Aziz during his four day stay here.
"There is so much to be done, and so many worthwhile programs and policies are being designed, that there is a danger of crowding and congestion," he told reporters.
"Establishing clear priorities and careful sequencing of the reforms is crucial."
The International Monetary Fund has revived lending to Pakistan on the basis of reforms planned by Musharraf regime which emerged from a bloodless coup in 1999 pledging to make economic revival its top priority.
On Friday, the IMF executive board approved 133 million dollars of credit for Pakistan acknowleding the country had made encouraging economic progress.
The board said its action would bring total disbursements for Pakistan under its current arrangement with the Fund to 324 million dollars.
"Pakistan's achievements to date under the program ... have been encouraging," said Eduardo Aninat, deputy IMF managing director – ISLAMABAD (AFP)
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