Bangkok: Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb met with Ambassador Yon of the U.S. State Department during the World Bank Group-IMF Annual Meetings 2026 in Bangkok, Thailand. The discussions centered on bilateral economic cooperation, including progress toward a trade framework agreement and energy diversification through increased imports from the United States.

According to Radio Pakistan, the meeting also addressed anti-money laundering and counter-financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) arrangements, follow-up with the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), and investment financing via the U.S. Development Finance Corporation and EXIM Bank. The talks included potential acquisition and financing of Boeing aircraft, aviation clearances, and the regulation of digital assets. Aurangzeb highlighted the importance of cooperation on critical minerals, project security, and the mobilization of private investment. Additionally, possible applications of remittances and Eurobond tokenization were discussed.

On the sidelines of the same event, Aurangzeb met with a delegation from S&P Global Ratings, reaffirming the government’s dedication to structural reforms, fiscal discipline, and sustainable export-led growth. The Finance Minister emphasized the successful September bond issuance and strong investor participation, as well as progress under the IMF program. Discussions with S&P covered improved tax collections, reserve accumulation, and reduced swap and forward liabilities, along with ambitions for Pakistan to enter the double-B rating category through economic improvements. S&P’s focus on policy continuity, reform implementation, and stronger external buffers as key rating considerations was also noted.