World Bank to provide $145 million to Afghanistan

Washington, August 2, 2004 - The World Bank has approved $145 million to Afghanistan as part of its commitment to assist the war-shattered nation. The package is expected to include $35 million in grant funding for education, $25 million for urban reconstruction, $80 million to support government's medium term strategy and $5 million for an investment guarantee initiative.

World Bank as a leading lending institution has committed to contribute around 1 billion US dollars in rebuilding Afghanistan by June 2005; about half of the money is expected to be in grant funding.