Key Points
- World Bank President Ajay Banga arrives in Islamabad on Finance Minister’s invitation
- Meetings with Prime Minister and senior officials will cover World Bank’s multi-billion-dollar partnership and development agenda.
- Discussions will include Pakistan’s 10-year Country Partnership Framework and priority initiatives.
ISLAMABAD: Pakistani authorities will raise the future of the Indus Water Treaty with World Bank President Ajay Banga during his five-day official visit to Pakistan, government officials said on Sunday, placing a long-running water dispute with India high on the bilateral agenda.
The World Bank brokered the 1960 Indus Water Treaty between India and Pakistan, which New Delhi has been holding in “abeyance” since April last year — a move Pakistan says is unilateral, illegal, and in violation of the treaty’s provisions. An international court of arbitration has also ruled in Pakistan’s favour, rejecting India’s unilateral actions.
World Bank President Ajay Banga arrived in Pakistan on Sunday to begin the visit, which will also focus on economic reforms, development priorities, and long-term strategic cooperation. The official visit aimed to strengthen the development partnership between Pakistan and the World Bank on economic reforms, development priorities, and long-term strategic partnerships.
Banga’s itinerary includes meetings with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, and senior government officials to discuss key development challenges and reform agendas.
A senior official at the World Bank’s resident office in Islamabad confirmed the arrival of President Banga and said, “he would be here (in Pakistan) till February 4. He would be meeting senior government officials and high-ups.”
Earlier, a Finance Ministry official informed this reporter that President Banga is a close friend of Finance Minister Muhammad Auragzeb and is visiting Pakistan on his special invitation.
During the President World Bank meetings in Pakistan, discussions will also focus on economic reform measures, ongoing water management issues, and efforts to advance Pakistan’s 10‑year Country Partnership Framework.
Under this framework, the World Bank plans to provide approximately $20 billion in financial support to Pakistan by 2035 to assist with development and reform priorities.
Another $20 billion financing would come to Pakistan’s private sector from the International Finance Corporation, the commercial lending arm of the World Bank, under the same Country Partnership Framework.
At the outset of the visit, the World Bank President and his delegation also visited the historic Gurdwara Sri Panja Sahib in Hasan Abdal, where he had chats with local religious leaders and community members.
Officials and analysts say the visit underscores Pakistan’s continued importance to the World Bank’s development agenda in South Asia and signals sustained engagement on fiscal policy, governance reforms, infrastructure, and climate resilience.
Meetings and formal discussions are expected to continue through February 4.
