Pakistan and the World Bank have reaffirmed their commitment to continued collaboration in advancing Pakistan’s priorities in health, education, social protection, workforce development, and technology-enabled service delivery. Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb held a meeting at the Finance Division with a World Bank Group delegation led by Ms. Mamta Murthi, Vice President for Human Development (Health, Education and Social Protection).
Delegation and Partnership
The delegation included Ms. Bolormaa Amgaabazar, Country Director for Pakistan; Ms. Keiko Inoue, Regional Director for Human Development; Ms. Sherin Varkey, Health Practice Manager; and Simon Andrews, IFC Director. Welcoming the delegation, the finance minister appreciated the World Bank Group’s continued partnership with Pakistan and acknowledged its support for the country’s development and reform priorities.
Focus on Human Development
He noted that while Pakistan has made important progress in restoring macroeconomic stability, the government’s focus has been increasingly directed towards improving social and human development outcomes through targeted investments in health, education, skills development, and social protection. He emphasized the importance of maintaining a strong focus on measurable outcomes and effective implementation under the World Bank’s long-term Country Partnership Framework with Pakistan.
Youth Population as Opportunity
The finance minister highlighted that Pakistan’s large and youthful population presents both a significant opportunity and an important policy priority. He underscored the need to improve human capital indicators, strengthen workforce participation, and equip young people with skills aligned with evolving labour market requirements. He further emphasized that sustained economic growth and competitiveness would require continued investments in people, alongside reforms aimed at improving productivity, service delivery, and employment generation.
Discussions on Health and Education
Discussions focused extensively on Pakistan’s human development agenda, including maternal and child health, nutrition, immunization, early childhood development, education outcomes, and population-related challenges. Ms. Mamta Murthi emphasized that long-term development outcomes would depend on sustained progress in key human capital indicators, particularly child nutrition, reduction in stunting, foundational learning, and access to quality healthcare and education services. She noted that the World Bank’s engagement is focused on supporting measurable outcomes and strengthening service delivery systems to ensure that essential interventions reach mothers and children effectively across the country.
Primary Healthcare and Digital Technologies
The meeting also covered opportunities to strengthen primary healthcare systems and expand access to essential services for mothers and children. Participants exchanged views on the growing role of artificial intelligence and digital technologies in healthcare, education, and workforce development. The finance minister emphasized the need to prepare Pakistan’s workforce for a rapidly evolving global economy, while the World Bank delegation shared international experiences relating to technology-driven service delivery, healthcare financing, and private sector participation.
Skills Development and Job Creation
A significant part of the discussion focused on skills development, workforce readiness, and job creation. The finance minister emphasized the importance of upskilling and reskilling Pakistan’s workforce to meet emerging economic needs and create pathways to higher-value employment opportunities. He noted that strengthening employability, particularly among young people, would remain central to the government’s broader economic transformation agenda.
The World Bank delegation shared international experiences relating to workforce development, technical and vocational training, and employment-focused skills programmes. Discussions highlighted the importance of stronger industry linkages, greater private sector participation in training initiatives, and outcome-based approaches that align skills development programmes with actual labour market demand and employment opportunities.
Global Forum on Universal Health Coverage
The meeting further explored opportunities for broader collaboration between the government, the World Bank Group, and the private sector in support of Pakistan’s human capital objectives. In this regard, Ms. Mamta Murthi invited Pakistan to participate in an upcoming global forum on Universal Health Coverage to be held in Japan later this year. She noted that the forum is a collaborative initiative supported by the government of Japan and jointly facilitated by the World Bank Group and WHO to advance progress towards Universal Health Coverage.
Government’s Commitment to Reforms
The finance minister appreciated the World Bank Group’s continued engagement and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to advancing reforms that strengthen human capital, improve social outcomes, expand employment opportunities, and support inclusive and sustainable economic growth.
Meeting with Economic Affairs Minister
Meanwhile, Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Cheema met with World Bank Vice President for People, Ms. Mamta Murthi, to discuss progress under ongoing cooperation between Pakistan and the World Bank and launch of new development initiatives with a particular focus on human capital development, skills development, workforce readiness, and employment generation for youth.
During the meeting, Ms. Murthi briefed the minister on the World Bank’s proposed interventions in the health, education, and human development sectors, including a medium-term Health Compact aimed at strengthening primary healthcare systems, improving maternal and child health outcomes, and enhancing service delivery through a digitally enabled health sector. Crowding in other development partners in the proposed initiatives will be the priority. She also discussed the possibility of a Skills Development Program focused on strengthening technical and vocational training, improving workforce readiness, and creating better employment opportunities for Pakistan’s youth.
Minister for Economic Affairs welcomed the World Bank’s proposals and emphasized the need to align future interventions with national development priorities. He underscored the importance of strengthening primary healthcare through greater use of digital solutions to improve service delivery and ensuring that skills development initiatives are demand-driven, industry-led, and responsive to the needs of the economy. While highlighting the need for increased private sector participation, the minister for economic affairs emphasized greater engagement by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) to support healthcare systems and industry-oriented skills initiatives.
The meeting also explored avenues for greater collaboration among the government, the World Bank Group, and the private sector to support Pakistan’s human capital objectives. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to continue cooperation and collaboration in advancing Pakistan’s human capital and economic development objectives.
