MANILA, Philippines, Dec. 22 (UPI) -- The Asian Development Bank Wednesday approved a $200 million loan to help Pakistan improve its basic social services.
The money will be used to boost health, education, water supply and sanitation in Punjab, the Manila-based agency said. The province is home to about 83 million people, or more than half of Pakistan's total population.
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The ADB said "poverty, illiteracy and ill-health are a major hindrance to economic progress and a source of social instability ... Punjab's social indicators fall far short of its economic development."