Islamabad: Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue, Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb, and British High Commissioner to Pakistan Ms. Jane Marriott CMG OBE here on Friday discussed Pakistan’s economic reform priorities and opportunities to deepen trade and investment cooperation between Pakistan and the United Kingdom.
According to a press release issued by the Finance Ministry, the British High Commissioner called on the minister, and during the meeting, they exchanged views on strengthening bilateral economic cooperation.
The British High Commissioner was accompanied by Development Director Mr. Sam Waldock and Senior Economist Mr. Louie Dane.
They discussed reform priorities, with particular emphasis on fiscal management, tax administration, digitalisation, expenditure efficiency, trade and investment promotion, public investment and public-private partnerships.
The discussion also covered regulatory reforms and measures to improve the investment environment, including investor facilitation and aftercare, effective investment-promotion mechanisms and the efficiency of key regulatory institutions.
Public-private partnerships were discussed as an avenue for mobilising private capital for development projects.
The two sides exchanged views on opportunities in the aviation sector, including potential international financing and investment.
The British side highlighted the potential role of international financing partners, while the finance minister noted that relevant technical and commercial considerations would guide the process.
On the occasion, Aurangzeb appreciated the United Kingdom’s continued support for Pakistan’s economic reform efforts through technical assistance, expertise and knowledge sharing.
He noted that Pakistan had moved from stabilisation towards sustainable, inclusive and responsible growth, with increasing emphasis on productivity, investment, exports and jobs.
He outlined the government’s six key priorities: bringing permanence to macroeconomic stability; moving from stabilisation to sustainable, inclusive and responsible growth; staying the course on structural reforms; moving from aid to trade and investment; expanding access to finance; and positioning Pakistan for the New Economy.
Aurangzeb stressed the importance of effective coordination across institutions to ensure consistency in implementation and create a more predictable environment for businesses and investors.
He highlighted the government’s ongoing efforts to improve the business environment and facilitate domestic and foreign investment.
The minister highlighted the need for stronger project preparation, commercially sound structures and institutional capacity to support PPP transactions.
The minister also briefed the British side on Pakistan’s external financing strategy, including efforts to strengthen access to international capital markets, improve the quality and sustainability of financing, reduce refinancing pressures and expand access to longer-term and more competitive sources of capital.
On the occasion, the British High Commissioner highlighted the UK’s continued interest in supporting Pakistan’s economic transformation through technical assistance aimed at strengthening the institutional and policy framework for investment, trade and private-sector development.
She also appreciated the successful issuance of Pakistan’s US$3 billion dual-tranche sovereign Eurobond, noting its significance for investor confidence and international market access.
Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to continued Pakistan-UK cooperation on economic reforms, institutional strengthening, trade and investment, with a shared focus on sustainable growth and expanding opportunities for private-sector engagement.