{
  "id": 14846828,
  "title": "Pakistan, ADB reinforce development partnership",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/16/pakistan-adb-reinforce-development-partnership",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-10-16T02:02:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Business Recorder",
    "slug": "business-recorder",
    "url": "https://www.brecorder.com/news/40444502/pakistan-adb-reinforce-development-partnership"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Pakistan's Governor to the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Ahad Khan Cheema, convened with ADB President Masato Kanda during the 2026 Annual Meetings in Bangkok, Thailand. Their discussion focused on Pakistan's development goals and opportunities to enhance collaboration under the ADB Country Partnership Strategy (CPS) for 2026-2030. Cheema extended his congratulations to Kanda for his re-election and acknowledged ADB's long-standing partnership with Pakistan. He welcomed the approval of the CPS 2026-2030 as a crucial framework for a more strategic and impact-driven partnership.\n\nCheema stressed the significance of private sector-led growth and urged ADB to broaden its non-sovereign operations in Pakistan. He advocated for a more substantial permanent presence on the ground to support investment transactions and cultivate a solid pipeline of public-private partnership projects. The Pakistan delegation underscored the importance of affordable development financing and greater flexibility within ADB's lending framework, alongside increased private-sector involvement and ongoing assistance for Pakistan's development priorities.\n\nCheema also commended ADB's leadership in progressing the ML-1 Railway Upgradation Project, an essential investment to modernize Pakistan's railway corridor, enhance regional connectivity, and revamp the nation's transportation and logistics infrastructure. He stressed the necessity of expediting the feasibility study and initiating the procurement process for this flagship project. Kanda reaffirmed ADB's continued involvement with Pakistan and pledged to expedite the Bank's institutional procedures for the ML-1 project. Both parties emphasized their commitment to reinforcing their partnership and pursuing shared development objectives, resolving to collaborate closely to expedite project implementation and achieve sustainable development outcomes for Pakistan.",
  "summary": "BANGKOK: Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Pakistan’s Governor to the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Ahad Khan Cheema, met with ADB President Masato Kanda on the sidelines of the 2026 Annual Meetings in Bangkok, Thailand, to discuss Pakistan’s development priorities and avenues for strengthening cooperation under the ADB Country Partnership Strategy (CPS) 2026–2030. The Minister…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}