LAHORE   -   A World Bank delegation led by Country Direc­tor Mr met with Punjab Chief Minister Ch Parvez Elahi at the Chief Minister’s Office and pledged to release $30 million for flood affectees of Pun­jab. The World Ban representative also agreed to increase cooperation in different fields between the Punjab govern­ment and the World Bank. A detailed dis­cussion was held about the WB-assisted social and infrastruc­ture improvement programme of the province. Former Fed­eral Minister Moonis Elahi was also present in the meeting. The country director as­sured to promote co­operation in education, health, family planning, irrigation, agriculture and construction of small dams while offering to give 35 million dollars to the Punjab government for cash transfer for flood victims. The chief minister said that 35 mil­lion dollars will be linked to the Punjab Ehsaas Programme and distributed among the flood victims. “I have had a long-standing relationship with the World Bank as beneficial reforms were introduced in the education and health sectors in my previous tenure. Educational reforms were also acknowledged globally”; he said and added that the government wanted to restart this coop­eration. The CM mentioned that his government announced making education free up to the de­gree level. Also, permission has been granted to recruit ad-hoc doctors and other staff in the health department and make medicines free in emergency wards in hospitals. Similarly, he added, special medical camps had been set up in flood-affected areas to prevent epidemics and a comprehensive plan has been drawn up for re­habilitation.