Federal Minister for Economic Affairs, Mr. Ahad Cheema, held a meeting with President of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), Ms. Zou Jiayi, to deliberate upon matters of mutual cooperation and future development initiatives. The Minister congratulated Ms. Jiayi on her assumption of office and expressed confidence that Pakistan’s partnership with AIIB would be further consolidated under her leadership.

The President of AIIB reaffirmed that Pakistan remains a strategic development partner of the Bank, with an overall portfolio amounting to almost US$3.5 billion . She inquired about Pakistan’s strategic priorities for the next three to five years to ensure that AIIB’s future engagement is closely aligned with the country’s development priorities. The President further conveyed the Bank’s interest in expanding its operations in Pakistan beyond sovereign financing, by exploring opportunities for non-sovereign interventions, thereby strengthening collaboration with the private sector and broadening the scope of development cooperation.

The Minister also acknowledged AIIB’s ongoing portfolio of US$1.387 billion in Pakistan and conveyed appreciation for the Bank’s continued support toward the country’s development priorities. He underscored the Government’s strategic focus on federal-level infrastructure projects, particularly in the railway, road, and power sectors, emphasizing the need for focused, high-impact initiatives capable of delivering substantial economic dividends.

The Minister highlighted the vast potential of Pakistan’s railway system, noting that modernization of freight movement and logistics would significantly enhance efficiency and strengthen overall economic productivity. He emphasized the importance of aligning AIIB’s engagement with Pakistan’s infrastructure priorities, citing transformative projects such as the Main Line-1 Railway Project (ML-1), N-5 National Highway Phase-II , and the modernization of electricity transmission and distribution systems. He also recognized AIIB’s contributions to key projects in energy, transport, and urban development.

In continuation, the Federal Minister emphasized the Government’s priority for adopting a pragmatic approach over the next three to five years, focusing on select solid and outcome-oriented projects. He underscored the importance of aligning the external economic assistance funded portfolio with federal government priorities to ensure maximum developmental impact. The Minister further highlighted the need for establishing an AIIB office in Pakistan to facilitate closer coordination and more effective engagement. He also encouraged enhanced collaboration with the private sector, particularly in the agriculture domain, to unlock growth potential and strengthen value chains, thereby contributing to sustainable economic development.

Concluding the meeting, the Federal Minister reiterated Pakistan’s request for AIIB’s expeditious cooperation and enhanced support for priority infrastructure initiatives, affirming the Government’s commitment to fostering sustainable economic growth through strategic development partnerships.