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World Bank President Ajay Banga Meets PM Shehbaz, Reaffirms Support for Pakistan’s Reforms
World Bank Group President Ajay Banga met PM Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad, reaffirming the WBG’s support for Pakistan’s economic reforms and long-term development under the Country Partnership Framework.
ND
by News Desk
2026-02-02
World Bank President Ajay Banga Meets PM Shehbaz, Reaffirms Support for Pakistan’s Reforms

World Bank Group (WBG) President Ajay Banga on Monday called on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, as Pakistan acknowledged the institution’s continued support in advancing the country’s economic development and reform agenda.

According to the Prime Minister’s Office, the premier welcomed Ajay Banga on his first official visit to Pakistan as the president of the World Bank Group. Prime Minister Shehbaz appreciated the WBG’s long-standing partnership with Pakistan and its sustained commitment to supporting the country’s development priorities, particularly through the 10-year World Bank Group Country Partnership Framework (CPF).

The prime minister also praised Banga’s leadership, noting his efforts to transform the World Bank Group into a more effective and impactful development partner.

PM Shehbaz said that the government was actively pursuing a comprehensive, multi-pronged, and homegrown economic reform programme aimed at achieving sustainable economic stability. He highlighted the World Bank Group’s support in key sectors, including resilient infrastructure, agribusiness, digital development, energy, human capital, fiscal reforms, and the promotion of productive private investment to drive job creation and economic growth.

Both sides reiterated the importance of fast-tracking the implementation of development projects and ensuring strong oversight to deliver tangible results at scale. These efforts, they noted, would support the prime minister’s initiative to address and resolve implementation bottlenecks in ongoing and future projects aligned with the Country Partnership Framework.

Prime Minister Shehbaz further reaffirmed the government’s commitment to structural reforms designed to unlock job-rich growth and strengthen investor confidence in Pakistan’s economy.

Speaking on the occasion, World Bank Group President Ajay Banga thanked the prime minister for the warm reception and hospitality. He commended Pakistan’s ongoing reform efforts and reaffirmed his commitment to deepening cooperation through a One World Bank Group approach.

Banga emphasised that leveraging private sector resources, alongside strong coordination with development partners, would be crucial to meeting the ambitions of Pakistan’s reform agenda.
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