ISLAMABAD: Miftah Ismail, Adviser to Prime Minister on Finance, Revenue andEconomic Affairs, on Saturday conveyed Pakistan’s concerns to the WorldBank over India’s non-adherence to the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT).
Miftah met with Managing Director World Bank Kristalina Georgieva inWashington, and drew her attention to disputes between Pakistan and Indiaover the construction of hydropower projects requesting the World Bank toplay its role under the IWT.
The Pakistani delegation, led by Miftah Ismail and comprising State Bankgovernor and Economic Affairs Division secretary, participated in the WorldBank spring meetings 2018 and attended a number of bilateral meetings onthe sidelines, the Finance Division said in a statement.
Miftah also discussed WB’s portfolio with in Pakistan as well as the futurepipeline. He briefed the MD about Pakistan’s economic performance over thepast few years. He pointed out that Pakistan was set to achieve high GDPgrowth rate during the current year again and was hoping to maintain thismomentum in the coming years due to robust performance of the real sectorof the economy.
The finance advisor also drew her attention to improvement in the country’sexports resulting from various policy initiatives implemented by thegovernment.
Georgieva appreciated reforms implemented by Pakistan and assured thebank’s support in carrying forward the country’s development agenda with afocus on SMEs, new business start-ups, agribusiness and greater regionalconnectivity, the statement added.
The advisor along with the Chairman BOI met with the World Bank’s Ease ofDoing Business team led by the Acting Chief Economist and apprised them ofseventy-five reforms implemented by the government to improve business andinvestment environment in Pakistan.
He also met with a large delegation of the US multinationals, members ofthe US-Pakistan Business Council, at the US Chamber and invited them totake advantage of investment opportunities available in Pakistan.