Islamabad, Feb 17: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met with the nine World Bank Executive Directors who visited Pakistan for the first time in two decades to assess the progress of the $40 billion Country Partnership Framework. During the meeting, the premier highlighted key areas of focus for Pakistan’s economic development.
He shared that $20 billion of the funding would be allocated toward health, education, and youth development, while the remaining $20 billion would be directed towards the private sector through the International Finance Corporation (IFC). The prime minister also briefed the delegation on Pakistan’s efforts to fast-track the digitalization of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to combat inflation, along with ongoing reforms in the power sector.
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The World Bank delegation acknowledged Pakistan’s progress in key economic reforms, particularly in the energy, industry, exports, privatization, and revenue generation sectors. The discussions also focused on opportunities for further investment in infrastructure projects.
Prime Minister Shehbaz emphasized that investment and partnerships, rather than loans, are Pakistan’s priority for future growth. He pointed to the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) as a crucial body for attracting foreign exchange and investment.
The meeting also saw the participation of senior ministers and officials, including Ahsan Iqbal, Ahad Khan Cheema, Sardar Awais Leghari, Dr. Musadik Malik, and others, who also contributed to the discussions on advancing Pakistan’s reform agenda.
