The World Bank has advised Pakistan to move beyond economic stabilisation towards sustainable growth by strengthening investment and private sector activity. The advice came at a meeting in Islamabad on Friday between a World Bank delegation and Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb.
The delegation was led by Sandeep Mahajan, the bank's Regional Practice Director for the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan, accompanied by Country Director Bolormaa Amgaabazar and International Finance Corporation Division Director Simon Andrews. According to an official statement, Mahajan congratulated Pakistan on restoring macroeconomic stability and praised the government's handling of the recent crisis caused by regional conflict, saying buffers built during stabilisation and a timely policy response had helped the country absorb external pressure.
Aurangzeb said the government's priority was to make stability durable and turn it into investment-led, export-driven growth. He noted that Pakistan had regained access to international capital markets through its recent $3 billion Eurobond issue with five- and 10-year maturities, and said further credit rating upgrades and stronger investor confidence were now needed.
The two sides also discussed privatisation, clear regulatory frameworks, infrastructure financing and the jobs agenda. Aurangzeb said investment and productivity depended on predictable policies and consistent implementation. It is the second such recommendation from the World Bank in recent weeks, and the IMF made similar points at a recent tax reform workshop.