The Asian Development Bank (ADB) will provide $3.6 billion aid to Pakistan over three years from 2006 including $300 million for projects to link the country with Central Asia, Dawn reported Thursday.

"The ADB management has agreed to offer $3.6 billion funding for three years, which means $1.2 million assistance every year starting from 2006," senior ADB representative in Pakistan Marshuk Ali Shah said.

He said the $300 million for the sub-regional connectivity projects to link Pakistan with the Central Asian States was part of an infrastructure development programme to promote effective trade relations.

The $800 million earmarked for 2005 had now been increased to $1.2 billion to help undertake bigger development projects, he said.

Some $200 million would also be given for development of the port city of Karachi besides another $300 million to link Gwadar and Qasim ports as well as the Karachi port.

"This is one of our major interventions to further help develop ports in Pakistan," said the ADB senior representative.

The bank, he said, would also disburse funding for improving rural health, water supply schemes and roads besides the development of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas and the for the country's micro credit scheme.

"Then we have decided to make available additional funding for Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz's 'one village one product' modernisation programme," he said, adding that the funding would help people in rural areas.