The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has appointed Xiaoqin (Emma) Fan as its new Country Director for Pakistan, as announced in a press release from the ADB.
Ms. Emma Fan assumed her role today at the Pakistan Resident Mission, succeeding Yong Ye, who had served as Country Director since 2021. Her appointment underscores ADB’s commitment to strengthening its partnerships in the region.
In her new role, Ms. Fan will manage ADB’s operations in Pakistan, overseeing the implementation of the country partnership strategy (CPS), which aims to foster economic growth, improve resilience, and enhance competitiveness. She will also lead consultations for the next CPS, covering the period from 2026 to 2030.
Expressing her excitement about the role, Ms. Fan said, “I look forward to promoting ADB’s long-standing partnership with the government and people of Pakistan.”
Ms. Fan, a New Zealand national, holds a Doctorate in Economics from the Australian National University and Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees from Lanzhou University in China. With over 30 years of professional experience, including 22 years at ADB, she has extensive expertise in economic and strategic planning.
Since joining ADB in 2002 as an economist, Ms. Fan has held several senior roles, including Advisor for the Strategic Planning Department and Regional Director of ADB’s Pacific Liaison and Coordination Office.
Under her leadership, ADB plans to accelerate economic recovery in Pakistan, implement key reforms, and promote job creation. Ms. Fan emphasized ADB’s dedication to working closely with federal and provincial governments, the private sector, and other stakeholders, stating, “We’ll scale up our support for climate resilience, private sector development, and institutional growth.”
ADB’s vision includes advancing sustainable cities, supporting rural development, and enhancing digital ecosystems to promote regional cooperation and integration. This appointment comes at a critical time as ADB continues its mission to achieve a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific while focusing on eradicating extreme poverty.
Founded in 1966, ADB is owned by 69 members, with 49 from the region, reflecting its ongoing commitment to regional development.
I am an experienced writer, analyst, and author. My exposure in English journalism spans more than 28 years. In the past, I have been working with daily The Muslim (Lahore Bureau), daily Business Recorder (Lahore/Islamabad Bureaus), Daily Times, Islamabad, daily The Nation (Lahore and Karachi). With daily The Nation, I have served as Resident Editor, Karachi. Since 2009, I have been working as a Freelance Writer/Editor for American organizations.
