ISLAMABAD, Oct 22 (ABC): China leads Pakistan’s foreign-funded development portfolio, with six projects worth Rs2.539 trillion. These projects account for approximately 31.4% of the country’s total portfolio of Rs8.099 trillion, covering 98 development schemes.
According to official figures for the fiscal year 2026-27, the Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives has listed 98 foreign-funded development projects. A copy of the donor-wise statement is available with Wealth Pakistan.
China holds the largest share of the portfolio in terms of estimated project cost. Notably, it leads all individual donors despite supporting only six of the 98 projects.
By June 30, 2026, estimated expenditure on China-supported projects had reached Rs57.229 billion. Meanwhile, the recorded throw-forward stood at Rs2.482 trillion, reflecting the substantial expenditure still required to complete these schemes.
For the current fiscal year, the government has allocated Rs31.7 billion to China-supported projects. This includes Rs25.829 billion in rupee cover and Rs5.872 billion in local funding.
IDA and ADB hold major shares of development portfolio
The International Development Association (IDA) ranks second among development partners. Its nine projects carry a combined estimated cost of Rs2.279 trillion, representing approximately 28.1% of the overall portfolio.
By June 30, 2026, estimated expenditure on these projects had reached Rs695.401 billion. The government has allocated another Rs60.075 billion for the current fiscal year.
The Asian Development Bank (ADB), meanwhile, supports the highest number of projects among all donors.
Its portfolio includes 31 schemes with a combined estimated cost of Rs1.131 trillion. Estimated expenditure on these projects stood at Rs396.357 billion, while the government has allocated Rs65.89 billion for 2026-27.
Similarly, the Islamic Development Bank supports three projects worth Rs851.969 billion.
Expenditure on these schemes reached Rs224.728 billion by June 2026. The government has also allocated Rs40.31 billion for their implementation during the ongoing fiscal year.
The official statement identifies another four projects under the multiple-donor category. Together, these projects have an estimated cost of Rs331.813 billion.
Interestingly, this category has received the highest annual allocation of Rs80.284 billion for 2026-27. The amount includes Rs23.584 billion in rupee cover and Rs56.7 billion in local funding.
Saudi Arabia, France and South Korea also support projects
Several other bilateral and multilateral partners contribute to Pakistan’s development portfolio.
Saudi Arabia supports three projects with a combined estimated cost of Rs255.705 billion. The government has allocated Rs3 billion for these projects during the current fiscal year.
Likewise, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) supports two projects worth Rs237.77 billion. These schemes have received an allocation of Rs9.4 billion for 2026-27.
France is associated with seven projects carrying a combined estimated cost of Rs112.154 billion. The government has allocated Rs10.766 billion for their implementation this year.
South Korea also supports seven projects, valued at Rs98.171 billion. Their annual allocation stands at Rs12.02 billion.
In addition, the official statement lists separate portfolios for the World Bank and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD).
The World Bank category includes eight projects worth Rs90.649 billion. Meanwhile, the IBRD category covers six schemes with an estimated cost of Rs40.482 billion.
For 2026-27, the government has allocated Rs12.679 billion to projects listed under the World Bank category. The allocation for IBRD-supported schemes stands at Rs12.198 billion.
Other development partners include Japan, the United States, Germany, Kuwait Fund, Italy and UN-Habitat. These partners support projects of varying sizes across the country’s development programme.
Pakistan allocates Rs345.6 billion for foreign-funded projects
Overall, estimated expenditure on Pakistan’s 98 foreign-funded development projects reached Rs1.981 trillion by June 30, 2026.
At the same time, the official statement recorded a total throw-forward of Rs5.294 trillion. This represents expenditure remaining on the projects beyond the amounts already spent, as recorded in the statement.
For fiscal year 2026-27, the government has allocated Rs345.625 billion for foreign-funded development projects.
Of this amount, Rs255 billion falls under rupee cover, while Rs90.625 billion represents local funding.
The multiple-donor category has received the highest allocation of Rs80.284 billion. ADB-supported projects follow with Rs65.89 billion, while IDA projects have received Rs60.075 billion.
In comparison, China-supported projects have received Rs31.7 billion for the current fiscal year.
These allocations show that the government has distributed development funding across several international partners, even though China accounts for the largest share of the total estimated project cost.
China’s leading position also highlights the scale of development cooperation between Pakistan and China.
However, the official donor-wise statement does not provide a project-level breakdown of the sectors covered by the six China-supported schemes.
