BANGKOK: Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Pakistan’s Governor to the World Bank Group (WBG), Mr. Ahad Khan Cheema, met Ms. Anna Bjerde, Managing Director of Operations, World Bank, on the sidelines of the 2026 World Bank Group–IMF Annual Meetings in Bangkok to discuss implementation of Pakistan’s Country Partnership Framework (CPF) 2026–2035.
The minister underscored the Government’s resolve to translate the CPF’s objectives into tangible development outcomes, calling for enhanced technical and financial support, integrated multisectoral programs and digital monitoring systems to track progress and measure impact.
He emphasized the importance of stronger project preparedness through dedicated Project Readiness Facilities (PRFs), predictable financing and enhanced implementation support to expedite project approvals and execution.
Highlighting the Prime Minister’s whole-of-government initiative to address systemic bottlenecks in project planning and implementation, the minister underlined the need for greater operational effectiveness on both sides, stronger institutional capacity and a shared focus on timely delivery.
He emphasized that concessional resources must be deployed efficiently to maximize development impact while safeguarding debt sustainability. Discussions also covered WBG’s support for sectors critical to human development, climate resilience, water and sanitation and economic transformation, with the Minister highlighting the importance of investments in sectors with high job-creation potential to expand employment opportunities and promote inclusive growth.
The minister also discussed enhanced support for the ML-1 Railway Upgradation Project and the vision of an Economic Railway Corridor along the approximately 1,800-km railway line to strengthen connectivity and unlock economic opportunities, alongside the proposed Minerals Compact to advance Pakistan’s minerals sector.
Ms. Bjerde reaffirmed the World Bank’s commitment to supporting Pakistan’s priority sectors and working with the Government to strengthen operational efficiency and accelerate project implementation. Both sides agreed to deepen their cooperation to advance shared priorities under the CPF and ensure that development financing translates into timely, sustainable and measurable benefits for the people of Pakistan.
