BANGKOK: Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Khan Cheema met World Bank Managing Director of Operations Anna Bjerde on the sidelines of the 2026 World Bank Group–IMF Annual Meetings in Bangkok to discuss Pakistan’s Country Partnership Framework (CPF) for 2026–2035.
Cheema, who also serves as Pakistan’s governor to the World Bank Group (WBG), stressed the government’s commitment to turning the framework’s objectives into tangible development outcomes.
He called for greater technical and financial support, integrated programmes across multiple sectors and digital monitoring systems to track progress and measure results.
Focus on Faster Project Implementation
The minister highlighted the need to improve project preparation through dedicated Project Readiness Facilities (PRFs), predictable financing and stronger implementation support.
These measures, he said, could help speed up project approvals and execution.
Cheema also highlighted Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s whole-of-government initiative to address persistent obstacles in project planning and implementation. He called for greater operational efficiency, stronger institutional capacity and a shared commitment to delivering projects on time.
The minister stressed that concessional financing must be used efficiently to maximise development benefits while maintaining debt sustainability.
Support for Jobs, Climate Resilience and Human Development
The discussions covered World Bank support for key sectors, including human development, climate resilience, water and sanitation, and economic transformation.
Cheema emphasised the importance of investing in sectors with strong job-creation potential. Such investments, he said, could expand employment opportunities and support inclusive economic growth.
ML-1 Railway Project and Minerals Sector
The minister also discussed increased support for the ML-1 Railway Upgradation Project and the proposed Economic Railway Corridor.
The vision involves developing an economic corridor along the approximately 1,800-kilometre railway line to improve connectivity and unlock new economic opportunities.
The two sides also discussed the proposed Minerals Compact, which aims to advance Pakistan’s minerals sector.
World Bank Reaffirms Support for Pakistan
Bjerde reaffirmed the World Bank’s commitment to supporting Pakistan’s priority sectors. She also expressed the institution’s willingness to work with the government to improve operational efficiency and accelerate project implementation.
Both sides agreed to deepen cooperation under the Country Partnership Framework and ensure that development financing delivers timely, sustainable and measurable benefits for the people of Pakistan.
