Islamabad, World Bank Vice President for South Asia, Martin Raiser, wrapped up his three-day visit to Pakistan with a pledge to deepen support for the country’s economic stabilization and growth initiatives, particularly in areas of human capital, climate resilience, and digital transformation.
According to The World Bank, Raiser engaged in extensive discussions with Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and other high-ranking officials, including the Ministers of Finance, Economic Affairs, and Energy, focusing on enhancing Pakistan’s economic framework and addressing critical developmental challenges. The talks explored significant reforms in the financial and energy sectors, digitalization efforts to improve governance, and strategies to combat climate change.
Raiser also visited Khyber Pakhtunkhwa where he met with provincial leaders and a National Assembly member to discuss localized development priorities and the World Bank’s potential increased support for sectors like education, health, and infrastructure, particularly considering the challenges posed by climate change in the region.
Highlighting the urgency of educational reforms, Raiser participated in the National Education Conference on Out-of-School Children, where he reaffirmed the World Bank’s commitment to addressing the high numbers of out-of-school children and improving the quality of education. This is part of a broader strategy to prepare a new, focused Country Partnership Framework for Pakistan, aiming to foster inclusive and resilient growth.