• Pakistan becomes the first country to launch longer-term CPF with the World Bank 

• Country Partnership Framework defines strategic collaboration between World Bank Group and Pakistan 

• Program aims to address key development challenges facing Pakistan: Rizwan Saeed Sheikh 

• Ambassador Sheikh emphasizes the profound human impact of the program. 

The landmark Country Partnership Framework (CPF) being launched today defines the strategic collaboration between World Bank and Pakistan,” said Pakistan’s Ambassador Rizwan Saeed Sheikh. 

“This is not only a result oriented but impact-oriented program that would benefit the fifth most densely populated country in the world,” he added.  

The Ambassador of Pakistan to the United States Rizwan Saeed Sheikh made these remarks during a reception hosted by the World Bank Group today following the approval of the Country Partnership Framework (CPF) of Pakistan by the World Bank Board. 

The reception was attended by key figures including the World Bank’s Vice President for South Asia, Martin Raiser, Executive Director for Pakistan at the World Bank, Dr. Tauqeer Shah, officials from the Embassy of Pakistan, and members of the World Bank South Asia region. 

Ambassador Rizwan Saeed Sheikh also highlighted the extensive efforts and collective teamwork that facilitated the successful development and approval of the framework.  

“A significant amount of effort was invested in the preparatory process of this framework, which emerged from an arduous effort on the part of both the World Bank and the relevant government departments in Pakistan,” noted the ambassador.   

In his welcome remarks, Vice President of the World Bank for South Asia, Mr. Martin Raiser, congratulated Ambassador Sheikh and expressed his appreciation for the collaborative efforts of the World Bank, the Government of Pakistan, and other World Bank Group partners, such as the International Finance Corporation (IFC), in successfully finalizing the framework. 

The Country Partnership Framework (CPF) spanning 2025-34 focuses on six key areas and nine objectives of reduced child stunting through improved access to health, nutrition and population services, reduced learning poverty through improved access to quality schools and foundational learning, more resilience to climate change through increased resilience to scarcity, droughts, heatwaves and natural disasters, increased decarbonization through access to cleaner, more sustainable energy and reduced air pollution, increased fiscal space and better management and more progressive public expenditures for development and more inclusive economic opportunities through increased private sector investments and exports. These objectives will be supported by increased digital development, stability and openness of the economy and social protection. 

The Country Partnership Framework will (CPF) govern the strategic partnership between the World Bank Group including the International Development Association- IDA, the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development- IBRD, the International Finance Corporation- IFC, and the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency- MIGA and the Government of Pakistan. The preparatory process involved extensive consultations with Government representatives, both at the Federal and Provincial levels, as well as with academia, civil society representatives, the private sector, and other bilateral and multilateral partners of Pakistan. It builds upon core analytics conducted by the World Bank Group over recent years which identified the most acute development challenges facing Pakistan and offered suggestions for reforms. 

Pakistan has the distinction of being the first country where a longer-term CPF has been launched by the Bank. This reflects closer partnership and a higher level of trust between the two. The CPF is proposed as a 10-year “rolling CPF”, with regular annual reviews to assess progress towards the proposed objectives. A mid-term review will allow for the evaluation of achievements against objectives and appropriate adjustments to ensure continued support for the long-term strategy. 

In the end, the Ambassador thanked the World Bank management for its support in getting the CPF approved and assured full commitment of the government of Pakistan to the realization of objectives outlined in it. He congratulated the Bank for achieving the replenishment target of $100 billion under IDA21 and reaffirmed the resolve to further broaden and deepen partnership and engagement with the Bank. 

Washington DC, January 14, 2025