Govt seeks WBG funds for ML-1, AI programme

. Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Pakistan's Governor to the World Bank Group (WBG) Ahad Khan Cheema sought continued WBG financing for the ML-1 railway project and the National Artificial Intelligence and Economic Development Programme during a meeting with WBG President Ajay Banga on the sidelines of the 2026 WBG-IMF Annual Meetings in Bangkok, according to a statement issued on Friday. Both sides discussed translating macroeconomic stabilisation into sustainable, investment-led growth, productive employment and improved livelihoods, building on Banga's visit to Pakistan in February 2026. 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 mobilisation in FY2026. He highlighted Pakistan's whole-of-government reform effort, led by the Prime Minister's Steering Committee on implementation reforms, to address systemic bottlenecks and expedite project execution. Both sides agreed to further streamline processes and accelerate delivery of development outcomes. The minister said CPF implementation and policy reforms must align with large-scale, high-impact investments in digital transformation and AI, minerals and value addition, primary healthcare, skills development, agricultural value chains, energy and transport infrastructure. He stressed the partnership must deliver lasting outcomes with credible monitoring and tangible improvements for end beneficiaries.