World bank says economic stabilization ‘taking hold’ in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: The World Bank said on Friday economic stabilization was “taking hold” in Pakistan, making this an opportune moment for the group to sign an agreement for a ten-year plan to focus $20 billion in development lending in the cash-strapped country.

The new plan, known as the Country Partnership Framework, was announced by the World Bank last month and will focus the global institution’s pledge of $20 billion in areas including clean energy and climate resilience in the ten years from 2026.

The country has teetered on the brink of economic crisis for several years and economists and international financial institutions have called for major economic reforms. Pakistan is currently under a $7 billion International Monetary Fund bailout program, which requires the country to boost government revenues and shore up external sources of financing, much of which comes from loans from China and Gulf nations.

“This is an important moment for the partnership between the World Bank Group and Pakistan as we engage on this journey at a particular moment for Pakistan where stabilization is taking hold and there are new ambitions and new plans for development on the long term that are very aligned with the prioritizes of the World Bank Group in the country,” WB Country Director for Pakistan, Najy Benhassine, said in a video message on X.

“This is a groundbreaking joint commitment with the government of Pakistan both at the federal and provincial level to commit to focus on six of the most acute development challenges that the country is facing.”

The World Bank’s lending for Pakistan will start in 2026 and focus on six outcomes: improving education quality, tackling child stunting, boosting climate resilience, enhancing energy efficiency, fostering inclusive development and increasing private investment.

The finance ministry’s monthly outlook report said this week Pakistan’s consumer inflation was expected to remain stable in February and maintain a downward trajectory compared to the previous year. Inflation has eased since last year with CPI coming in at 2.4 percent in January compared to 24 percent in the same period last year. Authorities have credited the downward trend to economic stabilization under the IMF program secured last summer.

An IMF mission is due to arrive in Islamabad next week for the first review of the global lender’s facility.

“The primary surplus is expected to improve further in the coming months,” the finance ministry said, pointing to one of the benchmarks identified by the IMF.

The report also said that foreign remittances, a crucial lifeline for Pakistan’s economy, were expected to rise.

“Workers’ remittances recorded robust inflows of $20.8 billion during July-Jan FY2025, marking a 31.7 percent increase over $15.8 billion last year,” the ministry said.