Pakistan is preparing a new $600 million loan from the World Bank under the Bold Reforms for Investment-Driven Growth and Employment (BRIDGE) programme, after officials say gains from the IMF loan to Pakistan have largely stabilised the economy. Programme documents place estimated approval on 29 January 2027, with the Ministry of Finance as the borrower. The full package is put at about $1.2 billion: $600 million from the World Bank and roughly $593 million from the federal government.
The Washington-based lender frames the money as support for a growth and jobs agenda once an International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme—short for the Fund’s financing and policy arrangement with a country—has steadied the macro picture. Private investment is described as stuck near 10% of GDP, less than half the regional peer rate, with foreign direct investment around 0.6% of GDP. The loan is meant to help move private investment toward a 15% of GDP target by 2035.
Laws and market changes tied to the loan
In return, the government has assured the World Bank it will pass at least two new statutes: an Investment Act and a Factoring Law. The Investment Act is meant to strengthen investor protections, clarify rights and sector limits through an updated negative list, and improve transparency. The Factoring Law, together with a modernised consolidated corporate insolvency law and a dedicated regulator, is intended to ease credit access, cut credit costs and expand receivables-based financing.
Other pledges include fully running the Pakistan Business Portal as a single digital window for business approvals, licensing the EXIM Bank with export credit and guarantee products that meet international standards, and shortening import and export clearance times. The government says clearance has already improved through the Customs Faceless System. Wheat and sugar are to be removed from the Import and Export Order 2022 so those commodities can trade more freely abroad—a step documents say needs cabinet approval rather than foreign money. Private shares of urea imports are also to rise, alongside a single national seed-variety approval system to speed high-yield and climate-resilient seeds.
Jobs, skills and overseas workers
The programme also backs stronger regulation at the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) toward World Health Organization Regulatory Maturity Level 3 and related international inspection membership, plus mutual-recognition work with Asian and African partners. Skills reforms include a stronger National Vocational Qualifications Framework and wider use of Labour Market Information Systems, with more Global Skills Partnership agreements backed by a digital migration platform.
The World Bank says about 800,000 workers who leave for overseas employment each year should benefit from digitised migration steps and better pre-departure orientation. That sits against a backdrop of more than three million Pakistanis entering the labour market annually, and against earlier efforts such as the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), set up to attract foreign investment and ease the business climate. Separately, the government has decided to take $750 million from the Asian Development Bank for pension and private-sector reforms; that money is described as going to budget deficit financing.
Aasan alfaaz mein
Pakistan World Bank se 600 million dollar ka naya qarza lene ja raha hai. Is ke badle Investment Act aur Factoring Law jaise naye qanoon banana hain, aur gandum-cheeni ki trade zyada khuli hogi. Overseas jaane wale mazdooron ke liye digital system bhi part hai. Approval January 2027 ke qareeb expected hai; yeh IMF loan to Pakistan ke baad growth ki koshish hai.
