Islamabad: Pakistan’s Finance Minister, Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb, met with the British High Commissioner to Pakistan, H.E. Ms. Jane Marriott CMG OBE, to discuss ongoing economic reforms and potential avenues for enhancing trade and investment between Pakistan and the United Kingdom. The discussions centered around aligning UK support with Pakistan’s economic priorities, focusing on trade, investment, and institutional reforms.
According to Press Information Department, the British High Commissioner was accompanied by Development Director Mr. Sam Waldock and Senior Economist Mr. Louie Dane. The Finance Minister expressed gratitude for the UK’s support through technical assistance and knowledge sharing, emphasizing Pakistan’s transition towards sustainable, inclusive growth. The British High Commissioner reiterated the UK’s commitment to aiding Pakistan’s economic transformation through institutional support and praised Pakistan’s recent successful issuance of a US$3 billion dual-tranche sovereign Eurobond.
Senator Aurangzeb outlined the government’s key priorities, including ensuring macroeconomic stability, enhancing structural reforms, and promoting trade and investment. The discussions also covered fiscal management, tax administration, digitalization, and public-private partnerships as vital components of Pakistan’s reform agenda.
The meeting addressed regulatory reforms aimed at improving the investment environment in Pakistan, with an emphasis on investor facilitation and effective investment-promotion mechanisms. Both parties discussed the importance of public-private partnerships to mobilize private capital for development projects, with the UK expressing interest in offering technical expertise at both national and provincial levels.
Opportunities for strengthening bilateral trade and investment were explored, with discussions on enhancing the role of UK businesses and diaspora networks in Pakistan’s private-sector development. The talks also touched on potential international financing and investment opportunities in the aviation sector, as well as Pakistan’s external financing strategy to improve access to international capital markets.
Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to continued cooperation in economic reforms, trade, and investment, with a shared focus on sustainable growth and expanding opportunities for private-sector engagement.