Islamabad: The Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue, Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb, met with Mr. Yingming Yang, Vice President for South, Central, and West Asia at the Asian Development Bank (ADB), to deliberate on Pakistan-ADB cooperation, focusing on structural reforms, investment, and access to finance.

According to Press Information Department, Mr. Yang praised Pakistan’s macroeconomic progress, improvements in fiscal management, and advancements in sovereign credit ratings, attributing these achievements to consistent reform efforts. The Finance Minister acknowledged ADB’s ongoing partnership and support for Pakistan’s reform agenda, emphasizing the need for institutionalizing reforms across various sectors to maintain a sustainable growth path.

The discussions highlighted a shift in focus towards sustainable and inclusive growth, prioritizing investment, exports, and private-sector participation. Access to finance for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) was identified as a critical component of the country’s growth strategy. Senator Aurangzeb underlined government initiatives to enhance SME financing and their integration into global value chains.

The meeting also addressed the necessity of mobilizing domestic and private capital through innovative financing structures and international cooperation. ADB expressed its commitment to aligning its support with Pakistan’s development priorities, including infrastructure, clean energy, and climate resilience.

Both parties agreed on the importance of fiscal prudence while pursuing sustainable growth, with ongoing and future policy-based operations aimed at facilitating key structural reforms. The alignment of ADB’s strategic priorities with the government’s reform agenda was reaffirmed, focusing on private-sector development, export competitiveness, and social protection.