What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Effective July 1, 2025, the World Bank moved Pakistan and Afghanistan from its South Asia grouping into its expanded Middle East and North Africa regional grouping. This changes how the World Bank classifies and reports on the countries; it does not change Pakistan’s borders or establish that Pakistan is universally considered part of the Middle East.
What changed in the World Bank’s classification?
The World Bank DataBank’s World Development Indicators country glossary states: “Since July 1, 2025, Afghanistan and Pakistan are classified as part of the Middle East and North Africa region, moving them from South Asia.” World Bank DataBank glossary
The date is the effective date of the reclassification. The World Bank’s regional material lists Pakistan in the expanded grouping, and its January 2026 Global Economic Prospects chapter describes the regional name change following the July 1 move.
Why did the World Bank move Pakistan to MENA?
The official material confirms the change and its date, but does not give a specific rationale for reclassifying Pakistan and Afghanistan. It is best understood as a World Bank institutional grouping used in the organization’s data and regional reporting, not as a statement that Pakistan’s physical geography or political identity has changed.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →#1 Best Overall
The available sources also do not establish that this reclassification changed Pakistan’s lending eligibility, funding, or programs. It should not be treated as evidence of a financial-policy change.
Is Pakistan in the Middle East now?
Pakistan is part of the World Bank’s expanded regional grouping, but that does not settle how every institution, map, or general reference classifies the country. The World Bank’s grouping is specific to its own work; its classification alone does not establish a universal regional label.
What does the World Bank call the region?
Wording varies across World Bank pages and datasets. The DataBank glossary note calls it the “Middle East and North Africa” region. Other World Bank materials use expanded names such as “Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan.” The World Bank’s regional page includes Pakistan, while its Country and Lending Groups page provides context on the institution’s groupings. World Bank WITS metadata also uses an expanded country-region label: WITS country profile metadata.
For that reason, “MENA” is a convenient shorthand, not the single exact label used consistently across every World Bank product.
Did Afghanistan move too?
Yes. The same World Bank notice says Afghanistan moved from South Asia into the Middle East and North Africa grouping on July 1, 2025.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- National Geographic Atlas of the World Eleventh Edition
Rank #4
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
