The Country Director of the World Bank for Pakistan, Bolormaa Amgaabazar, met with Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Muhammad Aurangzeb at the Finance Division to discuss strengthening cooperation under the Country Partnership Framework (CPF).
Focus on priority reforms
The meeting centered on advancing Pakistan’s reform agenda and improving implementation under the World Bank’s CPF. Key discussion areas included:
- Population management and human capital development
- Climate resilience and adaptation
- Agriculture sector reforms
- Energy sector sustainability
- Overall portfolio performance
The Finance Minister stressed the importance of effectively operationalizing the CPF, particularly in high-priority areas such as climate change and population planning.
Federal–provincial coordination
Aurangzeb underscored the need for strong coordination between federal and provincial governments to ensure policy coherence and effective implementation.
While provinces lead project execution, he emphasized that federal ministries must remain actively engaged in planning, oversight, and monitoring to maintain national alignment and ownership.
Both sides discussed enhancing:
- Institutional coordination
- Transparency in project design and target-setting
- Monitoring and evaluation mechanisms
Agriculture and energy reforms
Progress in agriculture reform was reviewed, with focus on boosting productivity, strengthening value chains, expanding access to finance, and encouraging private-sector participation.
The World Bank signaled readiness to support agricultural transformation efforts, including collaboration with the International Finance Corporation (IFC).
Energy sector reforms were also discussed, particularly options to improve long-term financial sustainability. Both sides agreed to continue technical-level consultations aligned with Pakistan’s broader fiscal framework.
Continued partnership
The World Bank reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Pakistan’s economic stabilization, climate resilience, and human capital development goals.
Aurangzeb appreciated the Bank’s ongoing partnership and reiterated the government’s commitment to structural reforms, improved governance, and ensuring development initiatives deliver sustainable and tangible benefits to citizens.
