Post by : Bianca
Haleem
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday welcomed World Bank Group (WBG) President Ajay Banga on his first official visit to Pakistan. The meeting highlighted the strong partnership between Pakistan and the WBG in supporting the country’s economic development and reforms.
The prime minister praised the WBG for its long-term commitment, particularly through the 10-year Country Partnership Framework (CPF), which aligns with Pakistan’s development priorities. He also acknowledged Banga’s leadership in making the World Bank a more impactful development partner.
PM Shehbaz outlined the government’s ongoing economic reform agenda, describing it as a comprehensive, homegrown program aimed at ensuring sustainable economic stability.
He highlighted areas of WBG support, including resilient infrastructure, agribusiness, energy, digital development, human capital, fiscal reforms, and encouraging private investment for job creation and growth.
Both leaders emphasized the need to fast-track project implementation and maintain strong oversight to achieve the CPF-aligned goals efficiently. PM Shehbaz reaffirmed his government’s commitment to structural reforms to unlock job-rich growth and strengthen investor confidence.
WBG President Ajay Banga thanked the prime minister for the warm reception and praised Pakistan’s reform efforts. He stressed the importance of leveraging private resources and coordinating with development partners to achieve the ambitious goals of Pakistan’s reform agenda.
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