To improve social and health indicators in Pakistan, World Bank has approved $300-million financial package, including a loan of $200-million, reported Express Tribune.
The loan has been approved under the Punjab Human Capital Investment Project that will strengthen services regarding health and social protection for poor and vulnerable households in various districts in Punjab.
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World Bank Country Director for Pakistan Illango Patchamuthu said that “investing at the start of life, especially for girls and women, is essential to empower citizens to thrive.”
He further added, “the project would help the Punjab province to invest in early years now to create a productive workforce for the future. The project is also aimed at increasing the quality and uptake of health services, including maternal care, immunisation and childbirths attended to be qualified professionals, reaching up to 18 million people.
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It will provide early childhood education and skills training for young parents and will improve systems to more efficiently manage economic and social inclusion programmes.”
The recent Human Capital Index (HCI) has highlighted that an average girl born in Pakistan will have realized only 40% of her overall human capital potential by the time she turns 18.
Pakistan’s high stunting rate among children under five and poor educational and learning outcomes also highlights the challenging human capital outcomes.
