Finance Minister Reaffirms Reform Commitment in IMF Discussions

Finance Minister Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb has reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to stay the course on key economic reforms during a meeting with IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva Finance officials from the MENAP (Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan, and Pakistan) region were also part of the meeting. Speaking as a lead participant, Aurangzeb said Pakistan had achieved macroeconomic stabilization and expressed satisfaction over the Staff-Level Agreement recently reached with the IMF. He said the government remains focused on continuing reforms in taxation, energy, state-owned enterprises (SOEs), and privatization, calling them essential for sustainable growth. The finance minister also highlighted Pakistan’s digital transformation efforts and tariff policy reforms aimed at boosting exports and competitiveness. Aurangzeb urged global investors to explore opportunities in Pakistan’s minerals, mining, agriculture, digital infrastructure, oil and gas, and pharmaceutical sectors, noting that the country’s policy direction is now firmly geared toward transparency and investment facilitation. The meeting, held on the sidelines of the IMF–World Bank Annual Meetings in Washington, brought together finance ministers and central bank governors from across the MENAP region to discuss growth prospects, reform priorities, and global economic challenges.