World Bank urges reform continuity
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World Bank Managing Director for Operations, Anna Bjerde, concluded a two-day visit to Pakistan yesterday and discussed coordination for economic reform between Pakistan and the World Bank. During her visit, she commended the authorities for the reform momentum and stressed the need for continuity in implementation to sustain economic stability and elicit a stronger investment and growth response by the private sector, said a release issued here.
Bjerde met with Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and expressed appreciation for the collaboration on the new 10-year World Bank Group Country Partnership Framework with Pakistan. They also discussed the need for coordinated reforms at the federal and provincial levels to ensure sustained and inclusive growth.
"Pakistan's path to sustainable economic recovery and poverty alleviation rests on comprehensive reforms that prioritise human capital, macroeconomic stability, climate resilience, sustainable energy and private sector growth," said Bjerde. "During my visit, we discussed the next steps on the reform agenda of the government, especially in the fiscal, digital, and energy sectors, as well as the potential of the country in terms of private-led growth and entrepreneurship, particularly to create quality jobs for women and youth."
Bjerde also met the Minister of Economic Affairs and Governor of the World Bank Group, Ahad Khan Cheema; Minister of Finance and Revenue, Muhammad Aurangzeb; Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, Ahsan Iqbal; Minister of Energy (Power Division), Sardar Awais Laghari; Minister for Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety, Syed Imran Ahmad Shah; Chairperson Benazir Income Support Programme, Rubina Khalid; Chairman Federal Board of Revenue, Rashid Mahmood Langrial; and other senior representatives.
Discussions focused on implementing the Country Partnership Framework to address Pakistan's most critical socio-economic challenges, particularly for women and girls, including access to water, climate resilience, and private-sector job creation.
In Sindh, she visited World Bank-supported project sites in Shaheed Benazirabad District with Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah and Health Minister Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho, and was hosted by First Lady and MNA Aseefa Bhutto Zardari.
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