Meeting agrees on fast-tracking 10-year CPF

A high-level meeting was held on Thursday at the Finance Division between Federal Minister for Finance Muhammad Aurangzeb and a World Bank delegation, led by Managing Director of Operations Anna Bjerde.

The meeting focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation, reviewing the World Bank's financing portfolio and accelerating the implementation of the newly launched 10-year Country Partnership Framework (CPF), said a press release.

Key discussions revolved around the priority areas identified under the CPF, with a particular focus on climate resilience and population management – two of the six foundational pillars of the framework. Both parties recognised the CPF as a critical tool for advancing sustainable development and achieving long-term economic stability.

Anna Bjerde commended the government of Pakistan for its continued commitment to daifficult but essential reforms, praising its dedication to sustaining the reform momentum in challenging circumstances. She also lauded Pakistan's political and economic leadership for its proactive stance on climate action and efforts to align economic growth with environmental sustainability.

Muhammad Aurangzeb reaffirmed the government's commitment to the CPF, stating, "We are focused on ensuring that climate resilience and sustainable development remain at the heart of our economic planning. The CPF represents an important opportunity and we aim to implement it with full coordination across key ministries and stakeholders."

He added that the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Climate Change and other relevant bodies were jointly working to establish a robust implementation framework. He requested the World Bank to provide technical leadership and assistance.

In response, Bjerde assured him of the bank's full support for Pakistan in achieving the CPF objectives. She expressed the bank's willingness to deepen engagements across key reform areas including taxation, energy and social protection. She underlined the need for supporting initiatives aimed at girls' education and women empowerment, which were critical to strengthening Pakistan's human capital and economic resilience.