WASHINGTON DC: Federal Minister for Finance Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb held a series of key meetings on the sidelines of the World Bank and IMF Spring Meetings 2026, discussing Pakistan’s economic situation, reforms, and prospects for enhancing trade and investment.
The finance minister met with International Monetary Fund Middle East and Central Asia Department Director Jihad Azour and the IMF mission team for Pakistan, where detailed discussions were held on ongoing reforms and the overall economic outlook.
Aurangzeb expressed satisfaction over the staff-level agreement and hoped that the IMF Executive Board would approve it soon to maintain the momentum of Pakistan’s reform programme.
During the meeting, he highlighted the economic impact of the ongoing Middle East conflict, describing it as one of the major recent supply shocks. He said the government is effectively managing second and third-round effects of the crisis, particularly in terms of economic growth and inflation.
The minister also referred to the successful repayment of Pakistan’s Eurobond and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to meeting all upcoming bilateral and multilateral financial obligations on time. Both sides also discussed progress on fiscal and structural reforms as well as efforts to increase revenues.
In a separate meeting, Aurangzeb met US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, where both sides discussed strengthening economic ties between Pakistan and the United States, particularly in trade and investment.
The finance minister reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to creating a business-friendly environment, improving investor facilitation, and expanding market access to promote sustainable economic partnership. Discussions also covered increasing bilateral trade volume, accessing new export markets, facilitating investment flows, and enhancing trade connectivity.
Both sides expressed satisfaction over progress in ongoing trade negotiations, calling it a positive development, and reaffirmed their commitment to expanding cooperation for mutually beneficial outcomes and long-term economic growth.
Aurangzeb also met US Treasury Deputy Under Secretary for International Affairs Jonathan Greenstein, where discussions focused on economic reforms and the external sector.
He highlighted the staff-level agreement with the IMF and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to the reform agenda. The minister noted that Pakistan had successfully repaid a $1.3 billion Eurobond and remains committed to timely servicing of all external obligations.
Both sides also discussed the economic impact of the Middle East conflict, particularly on remittances and Pakistan’s external sector. Aurangzeb briefed US officials on measures being taken to address direct and indirect effects and efforts to strengthen foreign exchange reserves.
The two countries reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing economic cooperation and agreed to build a strong and diversified economic partnership based on shared goals of regional stability and sustainable development.
Separately, the finance minister met Mastercard Chief Global Affairs and Policy Officer Tucker Foote to discuss promoting digital payments, financial inclusion, and innovation in the fintech sector in Pakistan.
Both sides reiterated their commitment to continued cooperation for developing a secure, inclusive, and modern digital economy in Pakistan. Issues related to cybersecurity, cross-border financial transactions, and remittances were also discussed.
Aurangzeb also met Google Vice President and Global Head of Government Affairs and Public Policy Karan Bhatia.
The minister appreciated Google’s ongoing initiatives in Pakistan, especially training and capacity-building programmes in the field of artificial intelligence. He also welcomed the launch of local production of Chromebooks in Pakistan and the decision to establish a Google office in the country in July 2026.
Both sides discussed ongoing and proposed projects aimed at promoting artificial intelligence and its application in key sectors of the economy, particularly agriculture and industry.
They reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation under Pakistan’s broader digital transformation agenda.
