Islamabad, February 17, 2025: A high-level delegation of nine Executive Directors from the World Bank has arrived in Pakistan, marking the first such visit in 20 years. The visit aims to review ongoing development projects and strengthen economic cooperation.
The delegation is scheduled to meet with Prime Minister, Finance Minister, Minister for Planning, Minister for Energy, and Minister for Economic Affairs. Discussions will focus on the implementation of the $40 billion funding under the Country Partnership Framework (CPF), as well as strategies to enhance Pakistan’s economic resilience.
As part of their visit, the delegation will travel to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh, Punjab, and Balochistan to assess development initiatives and formulate strategies for sustainable progress.
Earlier, World Bank Vice President for South Asia, Martin Raiser, had cautioned that the $20 billion lending under the CPF would be insufficient to meet Pakistan’s long-term development goals. He emphasized the need for Pakistan to mobilize additional resources and attract private sector investments to address economic challenges and the human capital crisis.
“The World Bank Group’s support alone will not be enough to achieve Pakistan’s ambitious targets. Improving the business climate to attract private investment is crucial,” Raiser stated in a press release following his recent visit.
Meanwhile, Pakistan has initiated preparations for securing an additional $1.5 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), with negotiations expected later this month. Two IMF delegations are scheduled to visit Pakistan, with discussions covering a total loan package of $2.5 billion, including a tranche from the existing $7 billion programme.
According to sources, an IMF delegation will arrive in Islamabad on February 24 to negotiate the $1.5 billion concessional loan, primarily aimed at addressing climate change-related damages.
The visits by the World Bank and IMF teams come at a crucial time as Pakistan grapples with economic challenges and seeks to bolster financial support for its development agenda.
