ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and the World Bank have agreed to strengthen development cooperation and accelerate reforms, with a renewed focus on climate resilience, agriculture modernization and energy sector sustainability.
The understanding emerged during a meeting in Islamabad between Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb and World Bank Country Director Bolormaa Amgaabazar. Discussions centered on advancing the World Bank’s Country Partnership Framework and aligning it with Pakistan’s reform priorities.
Focus on governance, transparency and coordination
Aurangzeb emphasized the importance of implementing reforms effectively, particularly in sectors vital to long-term economic stability. He highlighted stronger coordination between federal and provincial governments, noting that provinces lead implementation while federal oversight ensures policy consistency.
Both sides stressed improving transparency in project planning and strengthening monitoring systems to deliver measurable outcomes. Meanwhile, the World Bank reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with national and provincial stakeholders to enhance coordination and execution of development initiatives.
The dialogue also included broader reform areas such as human capital development, population management and climate adaptation, which remain central to Pakistan’s economic planning.
Agriculture and energy reforms take priority
Participants reviewed progress in agriculture reforms, focusing on boosting productivity, strengthening value chains and expanding access to finance. Increasing private sector participation also emerged as a key objective to drive rural growth and job creation.
Energy sector sustainability featured prominently in the talks. Officials discussed improving financial viability and ensuring long-term stability through structural reforms and better governance mechanisms.
Both sides agreed to maintain technical-level engagement to identify practical solutions aligned with Pakistan’s fiscal framework and reform roadmap. The renewed collaboration signals continued multilateral support for Pakistan’s development agenda.
