The World Bank Group’s current portfolio in Pakistan comprises 47 operations, including one regional project, with total commitments of approximately US$16.1 billion. The Bank says it has provided about US$52 billion in assistance to Pakistan since the country joined the institution in 1950.

The figures were included in the World Bank Group’s October 2026 Pakistan Development Update, which said faster structural reforms could help Pakistan achieve sustained growth and raise incomes by 2050. The report also identified private investment as important to the country’s next phase of growth.

The International Finance Corporation (IFC), the World Bank Group’s private-sector investment arm, has invested and mobilised approximately US$22 billion in Pakistan since 1959. Its projects have supported housing and infrastructure, alongside renewable energy, financial inclusion, agribusiness, manufacturing, healthcare and trade.

As of September 30, 2026, IFC’s committed portfolio in Pakistan stood at US$1.6 billion across 55 projects. This figure is separate from the World Bank’s US$16.1 billion portfolio commitment.

Production at Pakistan’s Reko Diq copper-gold project could be delayed by two years, from 2028 to 2030, as investors assess security conditions in Balochistan and tensions in the Middle East, Dawn reported. The conflict in neighbouring Iran, alongside persistent security challenges in Balochistan, has led investors to revisit the project’s original schedule.

Barrick Mining, the Canadian company operating the project, is expected to resume full-scale development by mid-2027 after completing an internal review, although it has not officially announced a revised construction timeline. Barrick began a formal review in February 2026 and extended its assessment period into early 2027. Speaking at the Mining Forum Americas last month, the company’s chief executive did not set out a new construction schedule, saying improvements in security were needed before Barrick could commit to a full-scale programme. Project activity has slowed, but management has retained all 700 permanent employees and about 2,000 contract workers at the site.

Some third-party service contracts have been allowed to expire, while research, administrative work and community development projects continue, according to the report. Nearly $1 billion has been invested in the project so far. It remains a strategic priority for the company and the government and is considered technically viable, though its development schedule could be affected by external conditions.

Barrick Chairman John L. Thornton is scheduled to visit Pakistan later this month for the Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum 2026 in Islamabad.
Assessments of the potential cost of a delay differ. One estimate puts cost escalation at $8 billion to $10 billion if work resumes within a year, and warns that a further deterioration in security or delays of more than two years could make the project prohibitively expensive. Another assessment estimates the increase at about 10 percent, or roughly $450 million to $900 million. The report said sentiment around the project had improved in recent weeks.

A proposal has also been made for a consortium of local companies to acquire a minority stake. Separately, concerns have been raised that only 30 to 35 percent of the copper-gold output may be processed in Pakistan, with the remainder sent to the operator’s Australian facility, potentially limiting domestic value addition. The project’s estimated capital cost has increased from earlier projections of about $7 billion to approximately $9.1 billion. Phase 1 investment is now estimated at $5.6 billion, up from $4 billion, while Phase 2 is expected to require a further $3.5 billion.
Designed as an open-pit mine and processing operation, Reko Diq is expected to produce copper-gold concentrate.

Initial capacity is planned at 45 million tonnes of ore a year, rising to 90 million tonnes after Phase 2.
The mine was initially planned to operate for 40 years. An updated feasibility study revised its estimated life to 37 years to account for higher throughput, while further exploration and resource development could potentially extend operations to as much as 80 years.
Reko Diq is projected to create 7,500 jobs during peak construction and support about 4,000 permanent positions once operational. Based on long-term commodity-price assumptions, projected free cash flow over 37 years is estimated at $74 billion.

Barrick holds a 50 percent stake in the project. The remaining 50 percent is held by the Balochistan government and three Pakistani state-owned entities: Pakistan Petroleum Limited, Oil and Gas Development Company and Government Holdings Private Limited.

According to an Estate Office report, 7,973 federal employees living in government residences have defaulted on rent. Karachi tops the city-wise list with 5,317 defaulters. The report puts Karachi’s rent-default rate at 74.26%. Media reports say the figures are 2,169 in Islamabad, 404 in Lahore, 57 in Peshawar and 26 in Quetta. Notices have reportedly been issued to employees over non-payment. The Estate Office has warned that allotments may be cancelled if the outstanding dues are not paid. The recovery of rent from government residences was also discussed at a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Housing and Works on October 8.

According to sources, the housing secretary told the committee that 8,000 to 10,000 notices had been issued over two months to recover outstanding dues. Work is also under way to digitise the system for recovering future payments.

The briefing did not verify the current list of 7,973 employees separately but provided broader context on efforts to recover rent arrears.

The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has issued notices to several religious seminaries in Islamabad over alleged violations of building-control regulations, warning that the properties could be sealed if their administrations fail to comply with its directions.

According to the notices, construction was carried out without approved building plans. The authority has asked the administrations to submit the required plans within 15 days and remove the identified violations by the deadline.The CDA said the violations include construction on mandatory setbacks and additional structures on rooftops. It also objected to the use of a building for a seminary when it was designated for residential purposes.

The authority warned that non-compliance could lead to the buildings being sealed, financial penalties and cancellation of the properties’ allotments. The action follows a separate CDA notice to the administration of JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s Islamabad residence over alleged unauthorised construction and encroachments. That notice also gave the administration 15 days to remove structures built on mandatory setbacks and warned that the property could be sealed or the structures demolished.

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah says the provincial government deliberately opened a newly paved Hyderabad road to traffic while electricity poles remained in its path, aiming to pressure the Hyderabad Electric Supply Company (HESCO) to complete their relocation.

The road connects Alamdar Chowk to Qasim Chowk and the Old National Highway. Images and videos showing poles obstructing traffic drew public criticism after the road was opened. Shah said the project required land from military authorities and cantonment boards. Sindh Chief Secretary later coordinated with the relevant authorities to arrange it. The provincial government had also paid HESCO to move the poles, but the work was delayed, he said.

The administration therefore paved the road and allowed traffic to use it, hoping public and media attention would prompt the utility to act. Shah said the coverage helped speed up the process. HESCO has since removed 25 poles. The mayor’s office and provincial ministers said the project is still under construction and has not been officially completed or inaugurated.

Peshawar | ReNews National Correspondent Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi has directed the relevant authorities to begin restoring the ancestral homes of Bollywood actors Dilip Kumar and Raj Kapoor in Peshawar as soon as possible. The direction was issued during a meeting on the preservation and development of Peshawar’s historical landmarks and tourist attractions. Faisal Karim Kundi also urged officials to accelerate heritage conservation work and improve facilities for visitors. Adviser for Development and Planning Usman Saifullah, Tourism Secretary Saadat Hassan and other officials attended the meeting. They briefed the governor on Peshawar’s historical and cultural significance, ongoing and proposed development projects, and plans to promote night tourism and heritage tourism. The governor said said Peshawar reflected centuries of history, civilisation and culture, and stressed that the city’s historical identity should be highlighted to attract visitors from within Pakistan and abroad. To make historic sites easier to reach, he called for special tourist bus services. He also directed officials to place the vintage ambulance and old fire engines preserved at Gor Khatri at a suitable location where visitors could view them. The governor further ordered the installation of large information boards near the Peshawar Motorway Toll Plaza, introducing visitors to the city’s historical sites and cultural attractions. He also emphasised the role of cultural activities in preserving Peshawar’s traditions, arts and literary heritage. Faisal Karim Kundi welcomed ongoing conservation efforts and said restoring landmarks and improving visitor facilities could help strengthen the city’s cultural identity.

Islamabad | ReNews National Correspondent The federal government is considering new rules to regulate and promote Pakistan’s construction industry, including the possible creation of one or two authorities and a defect liability period of at least three years for major public projects. The proposals were discussed at a meeting on the draft Construction Industry Development Authority (CIDA) Bill, chaired by Economic Affairs Minister Ahad Cheema in Islamabad. The meeting was exploratory, and consultations with the Constructors Association of Pakistan (CAP) and other stakeholders are due to continue. Officials are weighing whether to establish a single authority or separate bodies for regulation and industry promotion. The framework may also introduce Dispute Avoidance and Adjudication Boards for government projects to help resolve disputes before they escalate. The Pakistan Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) was asked to begin work on a defect liability period of at least three years for major projects. Smaller projects could be included in phases. Under such a requirement, contractors would be responsible for repairing covered defects that emerge during the liability period. The proposed framework also considers placing money withheld from contractors during that period in interest-bearing accounts. The funds, along with accumulated interest, would be returned after the liability period ends, subject to the final rules. The government is also considering using standard contracts developed by the International Federation of Consulting Engineers, known as FIDIC, as a reference for the framework. A key issue is the definition of a “major” project. CAP wants the proposed liability and dispute-board requirements to apply only to projects worth Rs 20 billion or more. The government is seeking a lower threshold, which would bring more public infrastructure projects under the rules. No final limit has been announced. Finance Minister of State Bilal Azhar Kayani and Housing Secretary retired Captain Muhammad Mahmood attended the meeting. The proposals have not yet become law. If adopted, they could set clearer responsibilities for contractors on public projects, but the scope and practical effect will depend on the bill’s final provisions and the threshold selected.

Islamabad | ReNews National Correspondent The Capital Development Authority (CDA) says construction of Shahdara Dam is expected to begin soon as part of its planning to strengthen Islamabad’s water supply. In an announcement, the authority said the proposed project could provide around 5 to 10 million gallons of water per day. The expected supply remains subject to the project’s final design, technical assessments and operational arrangements. The figure describes the dam’s proposed potential; it does not mean that the water is already available to residents or allocated to particular sectors or housing developments. The CDA has described a two-year completion period for the project. However, its announcement does not confirm that construction has started, specify a calendar date for completion, or provide details of a contract award or project budget. The timeline should therefore be treated as a plan rather than a firm delivery commitment. The proposal may be relevant to Islamabad’s longer-term water planning, but its practical impact will depend on the project moving through technical planning, construction and the arrangements needed to deliver water. For homebuyers and property investors, the announcement alone does not establish that a particular development will receive a reliable water connection or supply. Buyers should verify the existing water connections and supply arrangements for any property they are considering, including how the service is operated. A city-level dam plan is not evidence of a guaranteed allocation to an individual housing scheme, nor does it establish that property prices will rise. A confirmed construction start, publication of the final technical design and documented arrangements for water distribution would provide clearer evidence of the project’s progress. Until those details are available, the proposed timeline and output should be understood as planned outcomes.