Islamabad (TDI): Federal Minister for Economic Affairs, Ahad Khan Cheema, met with Konstantin Limitovskiy, Vice President of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), to review ongoing projects and explore new financing opportunities in Pakistan.
The meeting, also attended by the Secretary of the Economic Affairs Division, focused on AIIB’s current portfolio and potential future initiatives.
Minister Cheema began by thanking AIIB for its continued support, particularly during the devastating 2022 floods.
He highlighted the bank’s vital role in Pakistan’s infrastructure development and suggested that AIIB should consider increasing its senior-level presence in the country as investment volumes grow.
He also acknowledged the Bank’s contributions to the Project Preparation Special Fund (PPSF), particularly for the Improvement and Widening of the N-5 Project, which he described as crucial to the success of the initiative.
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Focusing on Pakistan’s strategic priorities, Cheema emphasized the importance of regional connectivity and economic growth.
He urged AIIB to consider financing the Sukkur-Hyderabad section of the Karachi-Peshawar Motorway (M-6), which would complete the crucial motorway link from Karachi to Peshawar.
The Secretary of the Economic Affairs Division further requested AIIB to expand its investment portfolio in Pakistan, with particular focus on the high-priority N-5 project, given its strategic importance.
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For his part, Vice President Limitovskiy expressed confidence in the Economic Affairs Division’s project review process and noted that any outstanding issues would be addressed promptly.
He reiterated AIIB’s commitment to advancing the N-5 Project and praised Pakistan’s cooperation in facilitating the bank’s ongoing investments.
Limitovskiy also signaled AIIB’s interest in expanding its portfolio to include future energy transmission sector projects in Pakistan.
