Washington (TDI): Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Khan Cheema met senior World Bank officials in Washington to reaffirm Pakistan’s commitment to long-term economic reforms and development goals.
The meetings come as Pakistan enters a new phase of partnership with the global lender, focused on a ten-year strategy.
In a meeting with Anna Bjerde, Managing Director for Operations, and Martin Raiser, South Asia Regional Vice President, Minister Cheema applauded the strengthened collaboration between Pakistan and the World Bank Group over the past year.
This enhanced engagement has culminated in the development of the new Country Partnership Framework (CPF) 2026-2035, a transformative ten-year strategy supported by an unprecedented $40 billion commitment from the World Bank.
He noted the critical help Pakistan received during times of crisis, especially during the COVID outbreak and the devastating floods of 2022, and conveyed his appreciation for the Bank’s timely support during those difficult moments.
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At the center of the discussions was the recently introduced Country Partnership Framework (CPF) 2026–2035, a $40 billion strategy aimed at addressing Pakistan’s development priorities. Cheema called it a major milestone in Pakistan’s engagement with the World Bank and stressed the need for a strong implementation plan to make the CPF a success.
“The CPF offers a clear roadmap,” the minister said, “but its impact depends on how well we put it into action.”
Cheema also welcomed Pakistan’s shift into the Bank’s Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region portfolio under Vice President Ousmane Dione, suggesting that the move could open new regional collaboration opportunities and knowledge sharing.
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In a separate meeting, Minister Cheema met Abdelhak Bedjaoui, Pakistan’s representative on the World Bank Board. He appreciated Bedjaoui’s advocacy for Pakistan and encouraged more regular visits by World Bank leadership to member countries to gain a better sense of ground realities.
Cheema also referred to recent project approvals, including $700 million for the Reko Diq mining venture and a $400 million Risk Participation Facility and reiterated Pakistan’s intention to stay closely engaged with the World Bank’s country team for effective implementation.
The World Bank leadership, in turn, assured the minister of continued support for Pakistan’s development journey and praised the country’s renewed focus on reforms and economic stability.
Sohail Majeed
Sohail Majeed is a Special Correspondent at The Diplomatic Insight. He has twelve plus years of experience in journalism & reporting. He covers International Affairs, Diplomacy, UN, Sports, Climate Change, Economy, Technology, and Health.
