ISLAMABAD: An American vessel was warmly received by Pakistani naval officials after it visited the Karachi port, said an official handout circulated by the Directorate General Public Relations of Pakistan Navy on Thursday.
“Pakistan Navy and US Navy are working together to ensure safe and secure maritime environment in the region,” said the statement, adding the visit of USS Monterey also materialized in the same context and “proved eventful and professionally rewarding for both the navies.”
The naval officials of the two countries interacted with each other.
The two sides also participated in navigational and communication drills at sea to strengthen their operational readiness and interoperability.
“Pakistan Navy, in line with government policy, has always contributed significantly toward safety, security and freedom of navigation at high seas,” the handout said, adding: “It is hoped that this visit shall further strengthen relations between both the navies.”
Pakistani, US naval officials hold meeting in Karachi, discuss maritime security
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Pakistani, US naval officials hold meeting in Karachi, discuss maritime security
- According to an official statement, the two countries have been working together to ensure safe and secure maritime environment in the region
- The two navies also participated in navigational and communication drills at sea to strengthen their interoperability
World Bank approves $700 million for Pakistan’s economic stability
- Of this, $600 million will go for federal programs and $100 million will support a provincial program in Sindh
- The results-based design ensures that resources are only disbursed once program objectives are achieved
ISLAMABAD: The World Bank has approved $700 million in financing for Pakistan under a multi-year initiative aimed at supporting the country’s macroeconomic stability and service delivery, the bank said on Friday.
The funds will be released under the bank’s Public Resources for Inclusive Development — Multiphase Programmatic Approach (PRID-MPA) that could provide up to $1.35 billion in total financing, according to the lender.
Of this amount, $600 million will go for federal programs and $100 million will support a provincial program in the southern Sindh province. The results-based design ensures that resources are only disbursed once program objectives are achieved.
“Pakistan’s path to inclusive, sustainable growth requires mobilizing more domestic resources and ensuring they are used efficiently and transparently to deliver results for people,” World Bank country director Bolormaa Amgaabazar said in a statement.
“Through this MPA, we are working with the Federal and Sindh governments to deliver tangible impacts— more predictable funding for schools and clinics, fairer tax systems, and stronger data for decision‑making— while safeguarding priority social and climate investments and strengthening public trust.”
The approval follows a $47.9 million World Bank grant in August to improve primary education in Pakistan’s most populous Punjab province.
In November, an IMF-World Bank report, uploaded by Pakistan’s finance ministry, said Pakistan’s fragmented regulation, opaque budgeting and political capture are curbing investment and weakening revenue.
Regional tensions may surface over international financing for Pakistan. In May, Reuters reported that India would oppose World Bank funding for Pakistan, citing a senior government source in New Delhi.
“Strengthening Pakistan’s fiscal foundations is essential to restoring macroeconomic stability, delivering results and strengthening institutions,” said Tobias Akhtar Haque, Lead Country Economist for the World Bank in Pakistan.
“Through the PRID‑MPA, we are launching a coherent nationwide approach to support reforms that expand fiscal space, bolster investments in human capital and climate resilience, and strengthen revenue administration, budget execution, and statistical systems. These reforms will ensure that resources reach the frontline and deliver better outcomes for people across Pakistan with greater efficiency and accountability.”
In Sindh, the program is expected to increase provincial revenues, enhance the speed and transparency of payments, and broaden the use of data to guide provincial decision making. The program will directly support the increase of public resources for inclusive development, including more equitable and responsive financing for primary health care facilities and more funding for schools.
