ISLAMABAD — World Bank Managing Director for Operations, Mrs. Anna Bjerde, concluded her two-day official visit to Pakistan, commending the government’s ongoing reform efforts and emphasizing the importance of continuity in implementation to secure economic stability and promote private-sector-led growth.
During her visit, Mrs. Bjerde held high-level meetings with Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and key cabinet members, discussing the new 10-year World Bank Group Country Partnership Framework (CPF) aimed at addressing Pakistan’s critical development challenges. She praised the collaborative spirit of Pakistani authorities and underscored the need for coordinated federal and provincial reforms to foster inclusive and sustainable growth.
“Pakistan’s path to sustainable economic recovery and poverty alleviation rests on comprehensive reforms that prioritize human capital, macroeconomic stability, climate resilience, sustainable energy, and private sector growth,” Mrs. Bjerde stated. “We discussed next steps in the government’s reform agenda, particularly in the fiscal, digital, and energy sectors, and explored the country’s potential for private-led entrepreneurship, especially in creating quality jobs for women and youth.”
Mrs. Bjerde also held discussions with several senior officials including Economic Affairs Minister and World Bank Governor Ahad Khan Cheema, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Energy Minister Sardar Awais Laghari, and others. These discussions centered on the operationalization of the CPF, with a focus on human capital, gender equality, climate resilience, disaster risk reduction, and improving access to basic services.
Read more: Pakistan, World Bank to Swiftly Implement New Country Partnership Framework
In addition to her engagements in Islamabad, Mrs. Bjerde visited World Bank-supported development sites in Shaheed Benazirabad District, Sindh. Accompanied by Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah and Health Minister Dr. Azra Fazal Pechuho, and hosted by First Lady and National Assembly member Ms. Aseefa Bhutto Zardari, she reviewed progress on the 2022 Sindh Flood Emergency Housing Reconstruction Project and the National Health Support Program.
At these sites, Mrs. Bjerde interacted with project beneficiaries, medical staff, and local officials, gaining firsthand insight into the impact of World Bank initiatives on vulnerable communities, particularly women and children.
Her visit signals a renewed commitment from the World Bank to support Pakistan in building a resilient, inclusive economy through long-term strategic partnerships and evidence-based reforms.
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