ISLAMABAD: The World Bank has proposed $600 million in financing for Pakistan under a five-year economic reform programme designed to strengthen private investment, expand exports and support employment.
The proposed initiative, titled Pakistan Bold Reforms for Investment-Driven Growth and Employment (BRIDGE), carries an estimated total cost of $1.193 billion.
The financing structure includes a proposed $600 million World Bank contribution and approximately $593.38 million in government funding.
The programme focuses on three areas: improving the business and investment environment, strengthening competitiveness in export-oriented sectors, and aligning workforce skills with employment opportunities.
Proposed measures include developing the Pakistan Business Portal as a unified platform for business approvals, modernising investment legislation and strengthening export financing arrangements.
In agriculture, the programme envisages changes to wheat and sugar trade regulations, greater private-sector participation in urea imports and a unified national system for approving seed varieties.
The initiative also covers pharmaceutical exports, trade facilitation and vocational training. A proposed national labour market information system would help connect workforce skills with employer requirements.
The Ministry of Finance is expected to coordinate the programme, which is aligned with Pakistan’s broader economic transformation objectives.
World Bank approval is targeted for January 2027. The financing and associated measures remain proposals pending the required approvals.