World Bank President Ajay Banga visits Pakistan; ETPB says possible visit to ancestral home in Khushab

Lahore Nazrana Times 
Report Ali Imran Chattha 
 

World Bank President Ajaypal Singh Banga has begun his official visit to Pakistan from 31 January to 4 February 2026, during which he will hold high-level meetings with Pakistan’s leadership on economic reforms, development financing, climate-resilient infrastructure and water-related challenges, including issues linked to the Indus Waters Treaty.
According to officials, the visit is aimed at strengthening cooperation between Pakistan and the World Bank at a time when the country is facing significant economic and climate pressures. Discussions are expected to cover fiscal reforms, development support and long-term water management strategies.
Meanwhile, sources in the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) have said that Ajay Banga might visit his ancestral home in Khushab during his stay in Pakistan. The sources stated that all necessary arrangements have been completed at the site in anticipation of a possible visit.
ETPB officials said that the ancestral property was later converted into a government high school, which remained operational for years. The school building is currently vacant and has recently undergone repair and renovation work to improve its condition. The property is located in an area locally known as “Gali Sikh Wali” in Khushab.
According to ETPB sources, the renovation work was carried out to preserve the historical value of the site and to ensure readiness in case the World Bank president includes Khushab in his visit programme. Officials clarified that while preparations are complete, no final confirmation has yet been issued regarding the visit to the ancestral home.
Ajay Banga, a Sikh of Punjabi origin, was born in Khadki near Pune, India, to Lt Gen Harbhajan Singh Banga, a former Indian Army officer. Public biographies trace his documented family roots to Indian Punjab, while local historical accounts and ETPB-linked information associate his ancestors with Khushab.
In recent days, social media posts and local reports have drawn attention to Sikh heritage sites in Khushab, including an old gurdwara where renovation work has also been highlighted. Officials, however, stress that the officially announced focus of the visit remains on economic and development-related engagements, and any heritage or ancestral visit would be separate and informal.
The World Bank and the Government of Pakistan have yet to release a detailed itinerary covering all locations, but authorities say the situation will become clearer as the visit progresses.