Bank’s assistance to Pakistan During the past four years from FY 2006 - 2009, the Bank has approved 30 projects of total US$3.7 billion for Pakistan. The World Bank is currently working with the Government of Pakistan to prepare a new Country Assistance Strategy (CAS) for the peirod FY2010-2013. The new CAS will take into consideration Pakistan's development priorities as articulated in the country's own Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper. 
|  | | | Information at-a-glance Lending FY09: US$1.6 billion
Lending FY08: US$ 544.9 million
GDP (2007): US$143.6 billion
Population (2007): 162.4 million
GNI per capita (2007): US$870
Population below $1 Dollar a day (2002): 17%
Population below $2 Dollar a day (2002): 74% Source: World Development Indicators 2006, Business Warehouse, Annual Report 2006 |
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In 2007/08, the sharp rise in international oil and food (specifically wheat) prices, in combination with policy inaction and internal political turmoil, led to rapidly expanding macroeconomic imbalances in Pakistan. To avoid a balance of payments crisis and default on foreign debt payments, the authorities developed a home-grown stabilization program, which was supported by the IMF through a 23-month Stand-By Arrangement (SBA) in November 2008. The program includes a medium-term macroeconomic framework, which envisages fiscal and monetary tightening to bring down inflation and reduce the external current account deficit to sustainable levels. The development emphasis remains on social protection particularly on enhancing social safety nets for the most vulnerable sections of society, poverty reduction, and infrastructure, particularly in water management, transport, education and energy. Over the last few years, Pakistan’s human development indicators have generally improved, but largely lag behind other countries in the region. Continuing challenges facing Pakistan include insufficiently targeted social safety net, an infrastructure deficit – particularly in energy, transport, and irrigation, and poor delivery of social services. However, stringent implementation of the economic program will be critical to success, and timely responses of fiscal and monetary authorities to emerging risks will be essential to ensure it remains on track.
The Bank is deepening its engagement on social protection, community-led development, water management, energy, and infrastructure, while maintaining strong programs in education, and irrigation.
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