Tue, 21-Oct-2025

PM Shehbaz lauds WB’s role in country’s progress

PM Shehbaz

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that with the cooperation of the World Bank (WB), several key development projects were completed in Pakistan, which had been playing a vital role in the country’s progress.

The prime minister expressed these views during a meeting with the delegation of World Bank Executive Directors. He welcomed the delegation on their visit to Pakistan and said the partnership between the WB and Pakistan spanned over seven decades.

“Pakistan has greatly benefited from its partnership with the World Bank,” he said, adding the WB provided substantial assistance to the people affected by the 2022 floods in Pakistan.

The prime minister observed that recent Country Partnership Framework of the World Bank included an investment of $40 billion in Pakistan which was highly encouraging.

With $20 billion allocated for various projects in health, education, youth development, and other social sectors, a new chapter of progress would begin in Pakistan, he added.

The prime minister said that an additional $20 billion investment in Pakistan private sector under the International Finance Corporation (IFC) would accelerate the country’s economic growth.

Appreciating the WB trust in the government’s policies, he said Pakistan’s institutional and economic reform programme was moving rapidly.

“The country’s economy is on the right path and moving towards growth,” the press release quoted the prime minister as saying.

The prime minister observed that Pakistan’s exports and remittances were increasing, adding reduction in interest rates was boosting investment in the production sector,.

He further said that the government was introducing transparency in the system to control corruption.

Digitization remained a priority in the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) reforms, he reiterated.

“The Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) has created an attractive environment for investment in Pakistan, functioning under a unique system involving all stakeholders,” he added.

The delegation members praised Pakistan’s ongoing reform programme and its effective implementation.

They said under the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Pakistan’s journey of economic reforms was progressing fastly .

The delegation also appreciated the government’s reform measures in the energy, industrial and export sectors, privatization, revenue generation, and other key areas.

A nine-member World Bank Executive Directors delegation is currently visiting Pakistan, overseeing portfolios of various countries within the World Bank.

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Turkish consortium bids for operations of Islamabad Airport

Turkish

 

KARACHI: The Turkish consortium, the only bidder to take over the operations of Pakistan’s Islamabad airport.

The opening ceremony of the financial bid was held at the Pakistan Airport Authority headquarters in Karachi, during which the only shortlisted Turkish company participated in the bid.

According to the spokesperson of Pakistan Airport Authority, the company has offered to contribute 47.25 percent of the revenue of Islamabad International Airport.

According to PAA sources, matter will now be referred to the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, which is advising Islamabad on outsourcing before Pakistan decides whether the bid can go through.

“The details of the financial proposal will … be presented and forwarded to the IFC for further evaluation and submission of final reports,” said Sadiq ur Rehman, the chairperson of the bid evaluation committee and deputy director general of Pakistan Airports Authority.

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IFC boosts trade finance with Bank Al Habib to support imports

ifc

ISLAMABAD: The International Finance Corporation (IFC) is partnering with Bank Al Habib Limited, to support the import of essential goods and equipment into Pakistan and foster a sustainable recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic, a statement said. The IFC is enhancing its trade facility to Bank Al Habib Limited (BAHL) to enable it to support the longer-term imports of capital goods, … Read more

IFC partners with Engro to reduce plastic waste, minimise climate impacts

IFC

KARACHI: The International Finance Corporation (IFC) is partnering with Engro Corporation to help reduce plastic waste, promote recycling and boost the company’s energy efficiency, a statement said on Monday. The project is part of the IFC’s Pakistan Resource Efficiency Programme, which aims at improving the efficiency, cost-competitiveness, reliability, and productivity in the manufacturing sector, particularly … Read more