ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday acknowledged the World Bank Group’s (WBG) pivotal role in supporting Pakistan’s economic development and reform agenda, describing the institution as a long-standing and reliable development partner.
The prime minister made these remarks during a meeting with World Bank Group President Ajay Banga, who paid a courtesy call on him at the Prime Minister’s House during his first official visit to Pakistan since assuming office.
Welcoming Mr Banga, the prime minister expressed appreciation for the World Bank Group’s continued support, particularly through the 10-year Country Partnership Framework (CPF), which aligns closely with Pakistan’s development priorities. He also lauded Mr Banga’s leadership in repositioning the World Bank Group as a more impactful and results-oriented development institution.
Prime Minister Shehbaz said the government was actively pursuing a comprehensive, home-grown economic reform programme aimed at achieving sustainable economic stability through wide-ranging structural reforms. He acknowledged the World Bank Group’s assistance in key sectors including resilient infrastructure, agribusiness, digital development, energy, human capital, fiscal reforms and the promotion of private sector-led growth to generate employment.
Both sides underscored the importance of expediting project implementation and strengthening oversight mechanisms to ensure timely delivery and tangible outcomes under CPF-aligned initiatives. The prime minister noted that such measures would help address longstanding implementation bottlenecks in development projects.
Reaffirming his government’s commitment to structural reforms, Prime Minister Shehbaz said these efforts were essential to unlocking job-rich growth and enhancing investor confidence.
Mr Banga thanked the prime minister for the warm reception and hospitality, commending Pakistan’s ongoing reform efforts. He reiterated the World Bank Group’s commitment to deepening cooperation through a “One World Bank Group” approach and stressed the need to mobilise private capital alongside enhanced coordination with development partners to meet the scale of Pakistan’s reform ambitions.
Separately, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mohammad Sohail Afridi met World Bank Group President Ajay Banga in Islamabad to explore expanded cooperation in health, education, minerals, energy and climate resilience.
The meeting was attended by Adviser to the Chief Minister on Finance Muzammil Aslam, Chief Secretary Shahab Ali Shah and other senior officials.
Mr Afridi said the provincial government highly valued the World Bank’s support, noting that health and education remained top priorities. He highlighted ongoing investments to strengthen the primary healthcare system and announced the launch of the “Ehsaas Maa” programme, under which the government will assume responsibility for maternal and child care from pregnancy through childbirth.
He added that mothers would receive an additional three months of support in the event of the birth of a girl child, and reaffirmed that the province was providing universal health coverage to its entire population.
Referring to environmental and economic challenges, the chief minister said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had suffered extensive losses from natural disasters, necessitating greater investment in climate resilience. He also stressed that, in line with former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s vision, the interests of local communities were being prioritised in the mineral sector.
Mr Afridi further outlined a comprehensive strategy to achieve food self-sufficiency, including initiatives to bring barren land in the province’s southern districts under cultivation.