H.E. Dr. Muhammad Sulaiman Al-Jasser, President of Islamic Development Bank President and Chairman of IsDB Group along with the delegation called on the Federal Minister for Planning Development & Special Initiatives Asad Umar

Dated : 17 December 2021

H.E. Dr. Muhammad Sulaiman Al-Jasser, President of Islamic Development Bank President and Chairman of IsDB Group along with the delegation called on the Federal Minister for Planning Development & Special Initiatives Asad Umar here in Islamabad on Friday. Secretary Planning Abdul Aziz Uqaili, Chief Economist Dr. Muhammad Ahmed Zubair, and senior officials attended the meeting.

Federal Minister for Planning Asad Umar welcomed the President of the Islamic Development Bank and congratulated him on assuming the office of the President of the IsDB for a five-year term starting from July 2021.

H.E Dr. Muhammad Al-Jasser highlighted that the Bank Group has had the experience of delivering humanitarian assistant in conflict-afflicted countries such as Palestine, Yemen, Syria, and Iraq. The Bank would garner all its institutional capacities to meet the expectations of alleviating long-sufferings of the people of Afghanistan as well as meet the expectations of the member countries of IsDB and the international community.

H.E. President discussed the role of IsDB in supporting wide-ranging socio-economic development programs in Pakistan. In particular, Excellency Al-Jasser pointed out that the Board of Executive Directors of IsDB is expected to approve US$180 million for the Mohmand Dam and Hydropower Projects on 18th December 2021, while the bank has already approved US$72.5 million under the IsDB COVID-19 Vaccine Support for Pakistan in April 2021.

The Minister request to IsDB to support the Bank's long-term finance operations in Pakistan through a guarantee structure that would strengthen the bankability of the projects. In addition, the Minister further added that the Planning Commission is preparing a Three Rolling Growth Strategy (3YRGS) and requested the Bank support and alignments of its medium terms operations through the instruments of Member Countries Partnership Strategy (MCPS). Excellency Al-Jasser wholeheartedly welcomed the initiative of the Government and assured full cooperation in both the alignment and implementation of 3YRGS.

While discussing the COVID containment and responsive program of the Government, Minister Asad Umar highlighted the internationally acclaimed role of the NCOC and expressed the readiness of the Government to share the experience with other member countries of IsDB.

Going forward, both dignitaries agreed to further deepen the mutual cooperation. The Chief Economist Dr. Zubair presented the Planning Commission Documents Annual Plan 2021-22, & the Public Sector Development Program (PSDP) 2021-22 to the President of IsDB.