World Bank Country Director Naji Ben Hussein denied reports that the international financial institution criticized Pakistan’s Oran plan, calling the allegations a “misinterpretation.”
In a statement shared on X (formerly Twitter), Ben Hassine addressed the confusion caused by articles published earlier that day. He explained that the reports misinterpreted a specific sentence in the newly issued World Bank Group Country Partnership Framework for Pakistan.
He stressed that the sentence referred to in the document does not constitute an evaluation of the Oran Plan or any of its components. “We are working with the government of Pakistan to ensure that the implementation of the new partnership framework is fully aligned with Pakistan’s national plans at all levels of government,” Bin Hussein said.
Planning and Development Minister Ahsan Iqbal also addressed the issue, rejecting any criticism from the World Bank. He reiterated that the Oran Plan and the 5E Framework were integrated and supported by sectoral objectives.
“A national vision, the 5E Framework for Transforming Pakistan, has been developed, but has not yet been translated into clear sector plans shared by all levels of government, including provincial governments,” the World Bank CPF report, released on Wednesday, said.
Iqbal stressed that the government is actively working to align the Oran Plan with the Strategic Partnership Framework to comprehensively address development priorities.