Pakistan to direct bulk of $2 billion annual World Bank funds to population challenge
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will channel nearly two-thirds of the $2 billion expected annually from a new World Bank partnership into tackling population growth and its impact on children, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb told UNICEF’s representative during a meeting in Islamabad on Monday.
Earlier this year, Pakistan and the World Bank signed a Country Partnership Framework (CPF) for $20 billion in lending to the cash-strapped nation over the coming decade on development issues like the impact of climate change as well as boosting private-sector growth.
Officials say directing most of the funds to population-related interventions will help relieve strain on education, health care, and food systems, as well as improve long-term human capital outcomes.
“The Finance Minister highlighted the two existential challenges facing the country — climate change and population growth — particularly their impact on child stunting and learning poverty,” the Finance Division said in a statement.
