WB, KP govt review ongoing collaboration, future partnership

PESHAWAR, Aug 28 (APP): Advisor to Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for Finance, Muzzammil Aslam, and Chief Secretary Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Shahab Ali Shah jointly chaired a meeting with World Bank team on Friday to review ongoing collaboration and explore future avenues of partnership in the energy, information technology (IT), and digital sectors.

Discussions centered on digital transformation and artificial intelligence (AI) interventions across the province, as well as the establishment of the KP Data Centre infrastructure.

Both sides deliberated on strategies to strengthen the province’s IT infrastructure and to address existing technical and institutional challenges in the sector.

On the subject of energy infrastructure, the KP government apprised the World Bank team of ongoing investments in hydropower generation projects and transmission line networks. It was shared that a dedicated Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Transmission & Grid System Company (KPT&GSC) has been established to facilitate the evacuation and distribution of power.

The provincial government reiterated its intention to channel green, renewable energy through these transmission networks to support industrial growth and other developmental needs.

The KP government reaffirmed its commitment to modernizing the province’s IT infrastructure and to expanding energy resources across the region in support of future digital and economic growth.

The World Bank delegation commended the performance of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government, particularly highlighting the province’s excellence in the IT sector.

Both sides acknowledged the longstanding partnership between the World Bank and the KP government and reaffirmed their shared commitment to further strengthening cooperation in the digital and energy domains.

The meeting agreed to form a joint working group comprising the World Bank and the KP government to examine technical and other modalities.