Muhammad Waheed

Background

About Muhammad Waheed

Senior Economist at the World Bank and an ex-central banker with over two decades of experience leading lending operations and delivering high-impact analytical work across South Asia and West Africa. I currently lead the Bank’s economic program in Liberia, overseeing Development Policy Operations (DPOs), Public Finance Reviews (PFRs), and macroeconomic surveillance. I serve as the principal counterpart to national authorities, leading policy dialogue on fiscal management, structural reforms, and macroeconomic stabilization. Previously, I served as Senior Economist for Afghanistan during a period of profound political and economic transition. I led the preparation of a DPO during the final phase of the Republic and sustained intensive economic monitoring and donor coordination after the Taliban takeover—efforts that were widely recognized by partners and Bank management for maintaining critical policy engagement under highly adverse conditions. In Pakistan, I led a broad portfolio of lending and analytical operations focused on fiscal sustainability, tax policy, and trade reforms. I was task team leader for a DLI-based tax administration reform operation (US$400 million), led the tax policy pillar of a major development policy credit, and contributed to multi-sectoral DPFs. I also led three sub-national Public Finance Reviews in Punjab, Sindh, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and spearheaded work on expenditure tracking and fiscal decentralization. My contributions extended across macroeconomic monitoring, growth diagnostics, and flagship strategy documents such as Pakistan@100. Across my assignments, I have built a strong track record in fiscal policy reform, tax modernization, and public financial management. I bring deep technical expertise and hands-on operational leadership, with a proven ability to manage complex policy engagements and deliver results in fragile and dynamic environments. My commitment is to evidence-based policy, institutional strengthening, and inclusive growth.