World Bank proposes $600 million financing for Pakistan tied to wheat, sugar and trade reforms

The World Bank has put forward $600 million in financing for Pakistan through a five-year reform package, with approval proposed for January 2027, Profit by Pakistan Today reported. The full programme is valued at $1.193 billion, including $593.38 million from the government, and focuses on investment, trade and employment. Its measures include opening wheat and sugar trade to deregulation, allowing greater private involvement in urea imports and reducing obstacles to investment and exports.

The proposed package also covers a single business-approval portal, updated investment legislation and unified insolvency and factoring laws. It would support pharmaceutical export standards, faster border clearances, a national labour-market information system and improved vocational training. The World Bank says private investment is about 10% of GDP and foreign direct investment is 0.6%; the government’s stated aim is to lift private investment to 15% of GDP by 2035.