Finance Minister to Visit Washington Next Week to Attend IMF, World Bank Meetings

Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb will travel to the United States on April 21 to attend the 2025 Spring Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank, while Pakistan faces a 29 percent tariff on its exports by the new US President. The visit comes at a critical time, with the tariff announced under the new trade measures of President Donald Trump. Although the tariffs are currently suspended for 90 days, Islamabad is preparing in case the tariffs are activated. Aurangzeb is expected to consult closely with the IMF and other international financial institutions on managing the economic impact of the proposed tariffs while continuing efforts to stabilize the economy following recent financial shocks. Institutions such as the IMF are anticipated to advise Pakistan on balancing external trade pressure with ongoing structural reforms. Alongside attending the global Spring Meetings, the finance minister may also use the visit to initiate high-level engagements with US officials. Following Aurangzeb’s visit, a separate trade delegation led by Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan is scheduled to travel to Washington for formal negotiations with US authorities. The Spring Meetings will convene global finance leaders, central bankers, and development experts to discuss global economic challenges. For Pakistan, the meetings offer a key platform to assess international responses to the US tariff proposal and shape a coordinated trade policy response ahead of formal negotiations.