Interior minister meets WB Country Director, anti-smog measures on agenda

ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi met with World Bank Country Director for Pakistan Najy Benhassine here on Thursday. The agenda of the meeting included joint cooperation on smog control.

It was decided in the meeting that the World Bank and the Capital Development Authority (CDA) team will jointly prepare a plan to deal with smog.

Discussions on sustainable development goals and issues of mutual interest also came under discussion. Both officials discussed electric buses, clean water and support for the development of slums.

The interior minister informed the WB delegates that this year, Pakistan’s Air Quality Index (AQI) has reached 271. “We welcome the World Bank’s cooperation for improving air quality,” Naqvi said, adding that Islamabad is one of the most beautiful cities in the world and it is imperative that anti-smog measures be implemented to preserved that beauty.

“The installation of anti-smog machines in Islamabad is being reviewed,” the minister informer the WB director, adding that Pakistan is “keen to control air pollution in Islamabad with the cooperation of the World Bank”.

“The improvement of slums and rural areas is also among our priorities,” Naqvi said.

Mohsin Naqvi informed Director Najy that Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) is being introduced as ‘Islamabad Water’. Najy said that the World Bank is ready to formulate an anti-smog strategy with Pakistan.

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