Monday, 9 February, 2026 | 20 Sha’ban, 1447
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Rs 20.00 | Vol XVI No 216 | 8 Pages Lahore Edition
FINMIN, WB MD DISCUSS $20B CPF, DEVELOPMENT PRIORITIES
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FINANCE MINISTER AURANGZEB, WB MD REVIEWS USD 20B WORLD BANK DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM, URGE RESULTS DRIVEN EXECUTION
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PAKISTAN AND SAUDI ARABIA COUNTERPARTS FOCUS ON INVESTMENTS, TRADE ENHANCEMENT, AND STRUCTURED TALENT PIPELINES
BILATERAL TALKS WITH IRAN REAFFIRM COMMITMENT TO BOOST TRADE, FACILITATE INVESTMENTS, AND REMOVE ECONOMIC BOTTLENECKS
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ISLAMABAD/RIYADH Staff report
EDERAL Minister for Finance and Revenue, Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb, held a series of high-level meetings on the sidelines of the AlUla Conference 2026 for Emerging Market Economies in Saudi Arabia, underscoring Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening development partnerships, attracting investments, and fostering regional economic cooperation. Pakistan, World Bank discuss development priorities Senator Aurangzeb met with Ms. Anna Bjerde, Managing Director of the World Bank Group, to re-
view the progress of the Country Partnership Framework (CPF) and explore ways to further enhance development cooperation. The discussions followed up on the World Bank President’s recent visit to Pakistan. Both sides assessed ongoing initiatives across priority sectors, including energy, education, health, climate resilience, debt-for-development swaps, fiscal reforms, and infrastructure development. Emphasis was placed on adopting a results-driven approach, introducing clear performance trackers, and ensuring effective implementation to translate commitments into tangible outcomes. Ms. Bjerde reaffirmed the World Bank Group’s strong support for
Pakistan’s ten-year development program, valued at USD 20 billion, emphasizing sustained engagement and robust execution to maximize developmental impact. Senator Aurangzeb highlighted Pakistan’s commitment to close collaboration with the World Bank, ensuring coordination across federal and provincial authorities to achieve timely execution and measurable results under the program. Pakistan-Saudi Arabia: Investments and tech talent collaboration On the sidelines of the conference, Senator Aurangzeb also met with Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Economy and Planning, Faisal bin Fadhil Alibrahim, to discuss bilateral investment opportunities and collaboration
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Pakistan to attend inaugural US-led Board of Peace meeting on Gaza amid ‘cautious diplomacy’ WASHINGTON
Staff report
Pakistan has been invited to attend the first proposed meeting of US President Donald Trump’s “Board of Peace” (BoP) on Gaza, scheduled in Washington on February 19, to formalizing the board, including defining its structure, mandate and secretariat, claims media reports cit-
ing diplomatic sources. According to the reports, Pakistan received the invitation as part of outreach to countries that have already joined the board, which was launched by Trump late last month. The inaugural meeting is expected to focus on formalising the board, including defining its structure, mandate, and secretariat.
“This will be a key meeting aimed at giving a shape and structure to the board,” one diplomatic source said. When asked whether Pakistan could be approached to contribute troops to a proposed international stabilisation force for Gaza, the source said such discussions were premature.
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