ISLAMABAD: In a sendoff dripping with praise, the World Bank’s outgoing Pakistan boss Najy Benhassine on Thursday gave Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif a full-blown economic endorsement, crediting him with dragging the country back from the economic brink and calling his leadership “transformational.”
During a farewell meeting, Benhassine did not hold back, applauding Sharif and his economic crew especially Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb for steering Pakistan away from a catastrophic default and laying down the yellow brick road to recovery.
“Under Prime Minister Sharif’s leadership, the economic team saved Pakistan from the threat of default and set it on the path to stability,” Benhassine said, calling the PM’s game plan a roadmap out of ruin. “Despite daunting challenges, your leadership helped transition the country from crisis to growth.”
Top ministers and World Bank brass – including Operations Manager Giles Dragelis – turned the meeting into a full-blown praise parade for Team Shehbaz, hailing their gritty handling of Pakistan’s fiscal nightmares. Benhassine, who served through one of Pakistan’s rockiest financial chapters, did not forget the 2022 floods, either. “You worked tirelessly for the relief and rehabilitation of flood-hit communities,” he said, adding that the nation would not forget the government’s hustle.
Sharif, ever the diplomat, returned the love and praise with gratitude and applause for Benhassine’s role in beefing up the World Bank’s game plan in Pakistan.
“You played a pivotal role in strengthening the partnership between Pakistan and the World Bank,” Sharif said. “Your cooperation and dedication will be remembered in kind words by the people of this country.”
Sharif chalked up the turnaround to grit, grind, and some serious elbow grease. “Stability didn’t happen overnight, it is the result of tireless work by a dedicated team,” he declared. With heavyweights like Ishaq Dar, Ahsan Iqbal, and Muhammad Aurangzeb in the room, Sharif bid farewell to Benhassine with a hint of sentiment.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
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