Islamabad, Sep 17 - The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has provided $150 million loan to Pakistan to carry out developmental works in the country's Punjab province, the Online news agency reported Thursday.

Punjab is the most populous province in the country. However, the power shortages and lack of private sector investments in the province have constrained the delivery of social services.

The loan will support reforms that strengthen public financial management, improve efficiency of civil service, boost sustainability of public pension system and promote public-private partnerships for infrastructure development.

'The adoption of results-based management will transform public sector management from micro control to a greater focus on results and will modernise government operations in Punjab,' said Xiaoqin Fan, senior economist of the bank.

The ADB will provide a total of $600 million in three phases till March 2011 to carry out developmental works in the province. The loan is the second instalment of that amount. The Planning and Development Department of the Punjab government is the executing agency.