Pakistan has raised serious concerns over the misdirection of development funds away from crucial social sectors such as education and health, a practice the Federal Minister for Climate Change warned creates “long-term inefficiencies,” during a high-level meeting with the World Bank on Wednesday.

The discussion, led by Federal Minister Senator Dr. Musadik Malik and a World Bank delegation including Country Director Ms. Melormaa Amgaabazar, addressed the core factors contributing to Pakistan’s macroeconomic instability and inflationary pressures.

Dr. Malik pointed out that many ongoing development initiatives are “high-budget but low-skill,” lacking the ability to be scaled up or operate cost-effectively. “Our focus must be on projects that are both scalable and sustainable – capable of delivering large-scale benefits to the people,” the minister stressed.

He also identified “tactical hurdles” in the execution of programs as a significant challenge confronting the nation, noting that these obstacles frequently cause delays and diminish the intended impact of development efforts.

In response, the World Bank delegation reaffirmed its commitment to the country and presented its new Country Partnership Framework (FY26-FY35). This 10-year roadmap, developed after two years of extensive consultations, outlines the strategic direction for future collaboration.

The framework will concentrate on six priority areas: stunting reduction, climate resilience, private sector development, education, population management, and energy sector reform.

Both parties exchanged views on potential initiatives under the new long-term engagement plan. They concluded the session by agreeing to strengthen coordination to ensure the effective implementation of projects that align with Pakistan’s climate and development objectives.