Development objectives: WB-financed PHCIP makes substantial progress

ISLAMABAD: The World Bank–financed Punjab Human Capital Investment Project (PHCIP) has made substantial progress toward its development objectives, with implementation momentum strengthening and cumulative disbursements nearing full utilization.

The Bank in its latest Implementation Status & Results Report (ISR) report noted that the $200 million IDA-funded project, approved in March 2020 and extended to June 30, 2026, aims to increase the utilization of quality health services and expand economic and social inclusion programs for poor and vulnerable households across selected districts of Punjab.

As of mid-December 2025, overall progress toward achieving the Project Development Objective (PDO) remains rated “Moderately Satisfactory,” while implementation performance has improved to the same level after previously being assessed as “Moderately Unsatisfactory.”

Project data show that more than 8.25 million individuals have benefited from cash-based interventions, exceeding revised targets, while 493,374 people have participated in productive inclusion programs, placing the project close to its end-line goals. Female beneficiaries account for nearly half of both cash-based and productive inclusion interventions, reinforcing the project’s gender-focused social protection framework.

On the health side, utilization indicators demonstrate sustained improvements. The share of pregnant women among conditional cash transfer (CCT) beneficiaries delivering at public health facilities increased to 37.86 percent by December 2025, compared to a baseline of 25 percent in 2019. Cumulatively, over 19.25 million people have received quality health, nutrition, and population services, including antenatal care (ANC), postnatal care (PNC), institutional deliveries, immunization, and family planning counselling.

Primary healthcare infrastructure strengthening remains a notable achievement. A total of 155 Basic Health Units (BHUs) have been upgraded to operate on a 24/7 basis, with 100 percent of these facilities now implementing electronic medical records (EMR) and fully integrated with Punjab’s Health Information Systems Development Unit (HISDU). Client satisfaction with health services remains high, with 94 percent of CCT beneficiary women reporting satisfaction, although the end-line target has been revised downward to 80 percent.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026