World Bank Group (WBG) President Ajay Banga called on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday as Pakistan acknowledged the group’s valuable support, which has been instrumental in advancing the country’s economic development and reforms.
According to the PM Office, the prime minister welcomed Banga for his first official visit as the president of the WBG.
The premier appreciated the group for its long-standing partnership with Pakistan and its commitment to supporting the development priorities of the country, especially through the 10-year WBG Country Partnership Framework (CPF).
Shehbaz also appreciated Banga’s leadership in transforming the WBG into a more impactful development partner.
He said that the government of Pakistan was vigorously working on an economic reform agenda, with a multi-pronged, comprehensive, structural, homegrown programme aimed at sustainable economic stability.
The prime minister also appreciated the support of the global financial institution in resilient infrastructure, agribusiness, digital development, energy, human capital, fiscal reforms, and increasing productive private investment for job creation and growth.
PM Shehbaz and Banga reiterated the need to fast-track implementation and ensure strong oversight to deliver impact at speed and scale on Country Partnership Framework (CPF)-aligned priorities. These measures would duly assist the prime minister’s initiative to address and resolve implementation bottlenecks in development projects.
PM Shehbaz also expressed the government’s commitment to structural reforms that would unlock job-rich growth and further strengthen investors’ confidence.
Speaking on the occasion, Banga expressed his gratitude to the prime minister for his reception and hospitality in Pakistan. He commended the government’s ongoing reform efforts and reaffirmed his commitment to deepening cooperation through a One World Bank Group approach.
He said that greater leverage of private resources, in addition to strong coordination with development partners, was necessary to meet the ambition of the government’s reform agenda.
Separately, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to UNESCO’s core values in advancing inclusive and quality education, safeguarding cultural heritage and strengthening resilience in the face of global challenges.
He was talking to Director General United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Dr. Khaled El-Enany, who called on him at the PM House.
While congratulating Dr. Enany on his election as Director General, UNESCO, he commended the important work being carried out by UNESCO and expressed Pakistan’s desire for continued collaboration with the organization, under Dr. Enany’s able leadership.
The prime minister highlighted various initiatives being undertaken by the Government of Pakistan for the promotion of education, particularly the “Education Emergency” that aims to maximize the enrollment of out-of-school children.
He shared the invaluable experiences, best practices, and highly successful track record achieved in the education sector during his tenure as Chief Minister of Punjab.
During the meeting, the prime minister also expressed satisfaction at UNESCO’s support in the protection and preservation of six cultural heritage sites in Pakistan and invited UNESCO to partner with Pakistan for enlisting more sites such as the Khewra Salt Mines.
Director General UNESCO thanked the prime minister for the warm welcome and said he had traveled to various schools and cultural sites in his short visit.
He appreciated Pakistan’s achievements in the education sector and underscored his continued commitment to support Pakistan’s efforts in the fields of education, science and culture.
Minister for Education and Professional Training Dr. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, Minister for National Heritage and Culture Aurangzeb Khichi and senior officials were also present on the occasion.
Moreover, Shehbaz Sharif held a meeting with the team representing the Pakistan Pavilion at the historic 61st Venice Biennale 2026, currently underway in Venice, Italy.
The meeting was attended by Najam Sethi, renowned Pakistani artist Faiza Butt, who is representing the Pakistan Pavilion, Pavilion Curator Beatriz Cifuentes Feliciano, and Pakistan Pavilion Commissioner Dr. Yaqoob Khan Bangash.
During the briefing, the Pavilion team informed the Prime Minister that Pakistan’s traditional art, distinctive aesthetics, and rich cultural heritage would be showcased to international visitors and tourists at the Venice Biennale. They further shared that a series of events will be organized under the Pakistan Pavilion from May to November 2026, aimed at highlighting diverse facets of Pakistani art and culture for global audiences.
The team also apprised the Prime Minister that the Venice Biennale, established in 1895, is the world’s oldest and largest international art exhibition, widely recognized for its diversity and creative excellence.
Welcoming the delegation, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif underscored the importance of promoting Pakistan’s history, cultural richness, and values of diversity and inclusivity on the international stage.
The delegation also extended an invitation to the Prime Minister to attend the inauguration ceremony of the Pakistan Pavilion.