Pakistan to Chair IMF and World Bank Boards in 2027
Ahad Khan Cheema will chair the Boards of Governors of the IMF and World Bank in 2027, the first time Pakistan has held the role since 1953.
Pakistan will chair the Boards of Governors of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group in 2027, marking the first time the country has held the position since 1953. The announcement was made during the 2026 annual meetings of both institutions in Bangkok, Thailand.
Ahad Khan Cheema, Pakistan's Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and governor to the World Bank, is the designated incoming chair. Following the announcement, Cheema met with World Bank Group Vice President Aradhana Kumar-Capoor and outgoing Chair Carlos Carvallo Spalding to discuss institutional coordination. Cheema stated that Pakistan is committed to improving development financing and strengthening the voice of developing countries.
While the Pakistani government described the appointment as a "historic achievement" reflecting international confidence, the role is largely ceremonial and does not grant authority over lending decisions or policy approvals. The appointment comes as Pakistan manages significant financial pressures and continues negotiations with the IMF under a $7 billion Extended Fund Facility and a $1.4 billion Resilience and Sustainability Facility. A recent staff-level agreement may unlock an additional $1.21 billion in financing.
