Asian Development Bank (ADB) Vice-President for South, Central and West Asia Yingming Yang on Friday met Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and reiterated the bank’s commitment to strengthen partnership and advance development initiatives, including fostering enabling environment for private sector growth and strengthening resilience and reforms.
The meeting marked the end of a 5-day visit. During his tour, Yang met ADB Governor and Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Khan Cheema and Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb. He underscored ADB’s support to addressing Pakistan’s pressing developmental needs through innovative financing and impactful investments. He also appreciated Pakistan’s successful efforts to stabilize the economy and implement robust structural reforms.
In his meeting with Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal and Railways Minister Hanif Abbasi, he discussed key priority areas of the new country partnership strategy for 2026-2030, and matters related to transformative investments including upgrading railways, enabling fast track project readiness while ensuring the preparation quality, and boosting economic growth in Pakistan.
Additionally, he visited the newly upgraded National Power Control Center in Islamabad. He delivered a keynote address at the High-Level Dialogues on Taxation for Fiscal Sustainability as well as PPP and Private Sector Development in Pakistan. He planted a tree at the site of new ADB office building in Islamabad. He also met with key development partners, business leaders and university faculty to exchange views and foster increased collaboration and synergy to achieve shared development goals.
In Lahore, Yang met Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz and discussed Pakistan’s breadbasket and most populous province’s development priorities including workforce improvement for future skills and jobs, digital transformation, modernizing agriculture and critical infrastructure.
ADB has been supporting Pakistan since the country became a founding member in 1966, committing 764 public sector loans, grants, and technical assistance totaling $58.6 billion. Presently, ADB has an active portfolio of over $10 billion in Pakistan, spanning about 50 operations.