Islamabad, 2-Feb-2026 (PPI): Pakistan and the World Bank Group (WBG) have reiterated their commitment to fast-track the implementation of development projects and ensure robust oversight to overcome bottlenecks, following a high-level meeting between Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and World Bank President Ajay Banga on Monday.
The discussion took place during Mr. Banga's first official visit to the country as President of the WBG, where he was welcomed by the Prime Minister in Islamabad.
Prime Minister Sharif lauded the World Bank Group for its long-standing partnership with Pakistan, acknowledging its commitment to the nation's development priorities, particularly through the 10-year Country Partnership Framework (CPF).
The Premier outlined his government's vigorous pursuit of a home-grown economic reform programme, describing it as a multi-pronged and comprehensive structural agenda aimed at achieving sustainable economic stability.
He expressed appreciation for the WBG’s backing in critical sectors including resilient infrastructure, agribusiness, digital development, energy, human capital, fiscal reforms, and the promotion of productive private investment to foster job creation and growth.
Both leaders agreed on the need to expedite implementation and maintain strong supervision to deliver impactful results at speed and scale on priorities aligned with the CPF, a move intended to directly support the Prime Minister’s initiative to resolve blockades in development projects.
Mr. Banga commended the Government of Pakistan’s ongoing reform efforts and reaffirmed his commitment to deepening cooperation through a "One World Bank Group" approach.
The World Bank President added that leveraging greater private resources, alongside strong coordination with other development partners, would be necessary to meet the ambitions of the government's reform agenda.
Prime Minister Sharif reiterated his government’s dedication to structural reforms designed to unlock job-rich growth and further bolster investor confidence in the nation's economy.