By Ijaz Kakakhel

Pakistan currently manages 98 foreign-funded development projects with a combined estimated cost of Rs8.099 trillion, with China emerging as the largest contributor by total project value, according to official donor-wise figures for the fiscal year 2026-27, a copy of which is available with Wealth Pakistan.

Data compiled by the Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives show that six China-supported projects carry a total cost of Rs2.539 trillion, representing approximately 31.4% of the country's entire foreign-funded development portfolio. Despite accounting for only six of the 98 projects, China outperforms all other individual donors in the aggregate value of its portfolio.

The figures also highlight the substantial investment requirements associated with Chinese-supported development schemes. Estimated expenditure on these six projects stood at Rs57.229 billion as of June 30, 2026, while the recorded throw-forward amounted to Rs2.482 trillion. The government has earmarked Rs31.7 billion for these projects during 2026-27.

The International Development Association (IDA) ranks second in terms of project cost, with nine schemes valued at Rs2.279 trillion, accounting for approximately 28.1% of the overall portfolio. Estimated expenditure on these projects stands at Rs695.401 billion, while the allocation for the current fiscal year is Rs60.075 billion.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) supports the highest number of projects, with 31 schemes involving a total investment of Rs1.131 trillion. Estimated expenditure on these projects reached Rs396.357 billion by June 2026, while Rs65.89 billion has been allocated for 2026-27.

Similarly, the Islamic Development Bank is financing three projects with a combined cost of Rs851.969 billion. Estimated expenditure on these schemes stands at Rs224.728 billion, while the government has allocated Rs40.31 billion for the ongoing fiscal year.

The donor-wise statement also identifies four projects under the multiple-donor category, involving Rs331.813 billion, followed by three Saudi Arabia-supported projects costing Rs255.705 billion and two Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank projects valued at Rs237.77 billion.

France is associated with seven projects worth Rs112.154 billion, while South Korea supports seven projects valued at Rs98.171 billion. Separate entries for the World Bank and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development cover eight and six projects, respectively.

According to the official figures, estimated expenditure across the entire foreign-funded development portfolio reached Rs1.981 trillion by June 30, 2026, while the total recorded throw-forward stood at Rs5.294 trillion, indicating substantial financing requirements for projects already included in the development pipeline.

For fiscal year 2026-27, the government has allocated Rs345.625 billion for foreign-funded projects, comprising Rs255 billion in rupee cover and Rs90.625 billion in local funding.

The highest annual allocation of Rs80.284 billion has been made for projects under the multiple-donor category, followed by Rs65.89 billion for ADB-supported projects and Rs60.075 billion for IDA projects.

The figures indicate that while China dominates the total cost of Pakistan's foreign-funded development portfolio, annual budgetary allocations are distributed across multiple multilateral and bilateral development partners.

The substantial throw-forward also highlights the importance of sustained financing and timely implementation to complete ongoing development schemes. As both countries progress further into the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) framework, these major megaprojects heavily emphasize transport infrastructure, energy generation, and specialized technical operations.

Credit: INP-WealthPk