Pakistan Seeks World Bank Financing for National AI Program

Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Pakistan's Governor to the World Bank Group, Ahad Khan Cheema, has sought continued World Bank financing for the ML-1 railway project and the National Artificial Intelligence and Economic Development Program during a meeting with WBG President Ajay Banga. The discussions focused on translating macroeconomic stabilization into sustainable, investment-led growth, productive employment, and improved livelihoods, building on Banga's February 2026 visit to Pakistan.

Cheema acknowledged the WBG's operational efficiency gains, including a reduction in average project preparation time from 19 months to nine months and record $112 billion in private capital mobilization in FY2026. Both sides agreed to streamline processes further and accelerate delivery of development outcomes, with an emphasis on large-scale, high-impact investments in digital transformation and AI.

Brief written by urgent.news from ProPakistani's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.