World Bank mobilises nearly $3.2 billion in private capital for Pakistan since 2022

Profit by Pakistan Today reported that the World Bank Group has channelled close to $3.2 billion of private money into Pakistan since 2022, as the country looks for funding beyond government budgets. Global private capital mobilisation set a new high of $112 billion in FY26, against $35 billion in FY22. Among the Pakistani schemes named are the Dasu Hydropower Project and the Punjab Green Development Program, both relying on World Bank credit, guarantees and collaborations with private lenders.

For Dasu, an opening $588 million loan from the International Development Association and a $460 million guarantee from the World Bank unlocked $338.5 million from overseas lenders and Rs144 billion from local banks. The Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) is developing the scheme, which it projects will provide 2,160 megawatts of clean power from its first stage. The Punjab Green Development Program, which received a $200 million IDA credit, drew $102.7 million in green investment, of which $52.7 million came from private investors.

The programme reached 98 SMEs and 653 microenterprises, helping them adopt cleaner production methods, and backed the creation of about 1,600 jobs. The World Bank said its approach uses financing, guarantees and partnerships to ease investment risk and draw commercial funds into development projects, aligning with its ten-year Country Partnership Framework running from FY26 to FY35.