Islamabad: Pakistan and the World Bank have expressed their commitment to work closely together to operationalize the 10-year Country Partnership Framework and build a stronger, more resilient partnership for sustainable development in Pakistan. The resolve was expressed during a meeting between the Minister for Finance and Revenue, Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb, and a World Bank delegation led by Managing Director Operations, Anna Bjerde, in Islamabad.
According to Radio Pakistan, the meeting focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation, reviewing the World Bank's financing portfolio, and accelerating the implementation of the newly launched Country Partnership Framework (CPF). Discussions revolved around priority areas identified under the CPF, particularly climate resilience and population management. Both parties recognized the CPF as a critical tool for advancing sustainable development and achieving long-term economic stability in Pakistan.
The World Bank's Managing Director Operations, Anna Bjerde, commended the Government of Pakistan for its commitment to essential reforms and praised its dedication to sustaining reform momentum in challenging circumstances. She lauded Pakistan's political and economic leadership for its proactive stance on climate action and efforts to align economic growth with environmental sustainability.
Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb reaffirmed the government's strong commitment to the Country Partnership Framework. He emphasized the government's focus on ensuring that climate resilience and sustainable development remain central to economic planning. The Minister highlighted that the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Climate Change, and other relevant bodies are collaboratively working to establish a robust implementation framework.
The Minister also requested the World Bank to provide technical leadership and assistance to streamline processes and ensure a prioritized and focused rollout of the Country Partnership Framework. In response, Anna Bjerde assured the World Bank's full support for Pakistan in achieving the objectives of the CPF. She expressed the Bank's willingness to deepen its engagement across key reform areas, including taxation, energy, and social protection.