STAFF REPORT LHR: The European Parliament (EU) has approved a grant of $800 million for bringing improvement in environment, healthcare, governance, besides law and order.
European Union Committee Coordinator Niraj Diva said this during his recent meeting at the Punjab office of All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (Aptma). Punjab Governor Chaudhry Sarwar was also present on the occasion.
On the occasion, he promised to seek further grant for water purification plants and sanitation projects.
He said that EU was concerned about the prevailing poverty in the region and GSP Plus status was granted to Pakistan to address this issue.
The EU parliament member pointed out that efforts were afoot to fund private sector projects in Pakistan through European Investment Bank (EIB).
“Up till now the EIB was funding projects within EU. Now it is being contemplated that the bank would fund projects in emerging economies.” he said.
Niraj also said that a research report authored by him on melting of glaciers in Himalayas provided very grim picture of water availability in the region.
“All your five rivers will completely dry up by 2030 if the melting is not addressed through joint efforts by Pakistan, India and Nepal. There would be no agriculture,” he said, regretting that despite such serious challenges, the regional countries in subcontinent were not on talking terms.