ISLAMABAD (APP) - Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on Friday asked the World Bank to focus on the provision of improved health and education facilities to people at grassroots level, lack of which is the root cause of terrorism along with poverty and employment opportunities. He was talking to Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Managing Director of the World Bank who called on him here at the PM House. He said the government has taken steps to improve the power situation in the country and in addition to encouraging new power plants and importing energy from Iran, alternate energy sources are also being tapped. The PM expressed the confidence that "The Friends of Democratic Pakistan Forum" would open new vistas of economic assistance, and investment in Pakistan, in the coming months, allowing the country to meet the challenges it is currently faced with. He said the govt of Pakistan expects that the US govt, after its transition phase is over, would expedite the Biden-Luger Bill and ROZs in tribal areas. The PM appreciated the long-standing relationship of the Government of Pakistan with the WB, which spans over five decades and expressed satisfaction over the development assistance and advisory services provided by the World Bank for ensuring economic growth and eradication of poverty in the country. The PM expressed the gratitude of the government of Pakistan to the World Bank for supporting the Benazir Income Support program. He said the government has taken steps to ensure transparency in the distribution of funds under this scheme. The PM said Pakistan is looking forward to increased support from the WB in the development and infrastructure sectors. He also appreciated the World Bank for considering supporting Pakistan in developing the North-South Trade corridor which would include building of rail, road and allied infrastructure. This, he said, would boost trade in the country in addition to benefiting the economy in general. The PM also appreciated the World Bank's engagement in the areas of social protection, community led development, water management, education, energy and infrastructure. He lauded World Bank's indication to disburse approximately US $ 500 million as budgetary support by June 30, 2009. The PM informed that the IMF programme is on track. He said that steps have been taken by the Govt of Pakistan to implement macro economic reforms such as phased removal of subsidies on petroleum and power prices, tightening of monetary policy, increasing revenue and controlling expenditures while reducing borrowing from the state bank. The PM said that IBRD's financing in Pakistan should be resumed. He said that the World Bank should consider supporting financing the energy sector projects. Meanwhile, Ms Ngozi lauded Pakistan's efforts aimed at economic stabilization and pledged that the Bank would vigorously support govt's agenda for economic growth and social development. Appreciating government's nine point agenda, The WB MD indicated that the Bank would like to see Pakistan government working beyond achieving economic stabilization. She informed that the Bank would like to help Pakistan in its agenda for social development especially government's programs like Benazir Income Support Programme. Ms. Gozi appreciated government's efforts for revenue collection and meeting the revenue targets. She said that Pakistan needed to capitalize on new initiatives from institutions like IFC and other multilateral and bilateral donors. She highlighted Pakistan's geo-strategic position which could be leveraged as regional logistic giant by positioning itself through trade and infrastructure corridors, for the South and Central Asia . Ngozi informed the team about the Bank's support for organizing a donors' conference in order to mobilize multilateral and bilateral donors in a structured process to meet the country's financing gaps. Hina told the WB MD that Pakistan expects WB's support for financing in infrastructure and energy sectors. She highlighted the National Trade Corridor Improvement Programme as very vital for Pakistan 's infrastructure and economic needs. She underscored the need for Public Private Partnership initiatives and requested Bank's assistance in this regard. The MD WB informed that the Bank will be looking into these opportunities through its private sector arm i.e. International Finance Corporation. The meeting between the two teams deliberated on the funding from the WB for National Corridor and energy sectors.