ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The newly appointed Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the World Bank Kristalina Georgieva will arrive in Islamabad on Thursday to discuss issues facing Pakistan and India with regard to the Indus Waters Treaty.
Her visit to Pakistan will be followed by an Indian tour. Her discussion with the leadership of the the two South Asian Countries will cover issues related to World Bank operations, development challenges as well as the Indus Waters Treaty.
Being signatories to the Indus Waters Treaty; Pakistan, India and the World Bank are in discussions about how to resolve disagreements the two South Asian Countries have over the interpretation of the treaty’s provisions in the context of India’s construction of two hydroelectric power plants.
“India and Pakistan are important partners and clients of the World Bank Group. We have longstanding relationships in support of their goals to improve education, create jobs, transform their energy sectors, and improve people’s lives,” Kristalina Georgieva was quoted as saying in a press release by the World Bank.
“I look forward to meeting leaders from both countries to gain a deeper understanding of their development goals as well as to fully appreciate all perspectives related to the Indus Waters Treaty.”
During her stay in Islamabad, the World Bank CEO will meet the senior leadership of Pakistan to discuss how best to support the country in making the most of its economic potential.
The CEO will also be visiting project sites and talking with people benefiting from the World Bank’s support.
In December last year, the World Bank in December announced a pause in the separate processes initiated by India and Pakistan under the Indus Waters Treaty to allow the two countries to consider alternative ways to resolve their differences, in line with the spirit of the treaty.
