Pakistan and the World Bank have reaffirmed their development partnership with a renewed focus on the effective implementation of the $40 billion Country Partnership Framework (CPF) 2026–2035. The reaffirmation was made during a high-level consultation held in Washington, D.C., as part of Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Khan Cheema’s official visit to the United States.
According to a statement released by Pakistan’s Economic Affairs Division (EAD), the discussions centered on deepening strategic collaboration, enhancing development impact, and accelerating priority reforms under the newly launched CPF. Cheema met with key World Bank leadership, including Anna Bjerde, Managing Director for Operations, and Martin Raiser, South Asia Regional Vice President, where he acknowledged the evolution of the Pakistan–World Bank relationship into a stronger and more productive development alliance.
“The past year has seen a notable expansion in engagement, culminating in the formulation of a transformative ten-year Country Partnership Framework, which now carries a historic commitment of $40 billion from the World Bank Group,” the EAD statement read.
Cheema conveyed appreciation for the World Bank’s sustained support during difficult phases, particularly the COVID-19 pandemic and the devastating 2022 floods. He emphasized that the World Bank remains Pakistan’s largest development partner, with crucial contributions toward social uplift and economic stabilization.
As part of the discussions, both sides agreed to accelerate work on a detailed implementation framework that will guide CPF roll-out over the next decade. Cheema reiterated the government’s commitment to aligning national development priorities with the CPF objectives, ensuring maximum socioeconomic returns through timely execution.
In a significant regional development, Cheema also welcomed Pakistan’s transition into the World Bank’s Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region under Vice President Ousmane Dione. He highlighted that the move could foster new opportunities for cross-border collaboration, regional knowledge sharing, and institutional reform support.
The minister also held a separate meeting with Abdelhak Bedjaoui, Executive Director at the World Bank, where he thanked him for effectively representing Pakistan’s economic priorities at the institution’s executive level. Cheema proposed regular in-country visits by executive directors to ensure greater understanding of local needs and real-time coordination with project stakeholders.
The consultations also reviewed recent World Bank-approved projects such as the $700 million commitment to the Reko Diq mining venture and a $400 million Risk Participation Facility. Both initiatives have moved forward despite complex legal and political considerations, reflecting mutual resolve between Pakistan and the World Bank to support long-term development drivers.
Cheema concluded the series of meetings by reaffirming Pakistan’s dedication to achieving CPF objectives in close coordination with the World Bank’s country team. He stressed that the CPF not only represents a major funding milestone but also marks a strategic blueprint for transforming Pakistan’s development landscape over the next decade.
The high-level reaffirmation signals continued confidence in Pakistan’s reform agenda and underlines the World Bank’s long-term commitment to supporting structural improvements, institutional resilience, and inclusive economic growth across the country.