Contact:

Fax: (202) 522-0321

WORLD BANK STATEMENT ON THE DEATH OF AKHTAR HAMEED KHAN

WASHINGTON, DC, October 20, 1999 — The World Bank and its country team for Pakistan are greatly saddened by the passing of Dr. Akhtar Hameed Khan last week. The World Bank holds Dr. Khan in great esteem for his groundbreaking work in poverty alleviation and raising standards of living through community participation.

While his long and distinguished career in social service is replete with success stories, the Orangi Pilot Project deserves special mention for providing, among other things, a sewerage system to one of the largest settlements in Asia on a self-help basis, and introducing micro-credits to disadvantaged individuals to help them earn a respectable livelihood.

Dr. Khan was a visionary who believed in participatory development and simple, local solutions to people's problems rather than grandiose schemes. While his death has deprived the country of one of the best crusaders against poverty and deprivation, his ideals and unflinching faith in human spirit to surmount adverse circumstances will be a beacon of light for all those who would follow his footsteps on the path to development and progress.

http://www.worldbank.org/html/extdr/extme/ps102099a.htm