Islamabad: Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb, Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue, met with Mr. Simon Andrews, Director of IFC for Pakistan, Afghanistan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan, to discuss strategies for leveraging private capital to enhance development and finance access in Pakistan.

According to Press Information Department, the meeting underscored the sustained partnership between Pakistan and IFC, focusing on expanding private-sector financing and fostering investment-led growth. The Finance Minister outlined the government’s priorities, which include entrepreneurship, SME and agricultural finance, affordable housing, and public-private partnerships as pivotal areas for mobilizing private capital.

The discussions also covered Pakistan’s improving macroeconomic indicators and burgeoning investor confidence, with an emphasis on transforming these gains into substantial investment and capital formation. The meeting explored the establishment of a fund for entrepreneurs, developed in collaboration with stakeholders to bolster Pakistan’s start-up ecosystem, as well as advancements in affordable housing by addressing supply-side constraints through developer finance models.

The IFC’s AgriConnect initiative was highlighted, focusing on opportunities for mobilizing private financing in agriculture through enhanced storage infrastructure and utilizing electronic warehouse receipts as collateral. Public-private partnerships in water and power sectors were also discussed, with potential projects aimed at improving service delivery and mobilizing infrastructure investment.

Both parties discussed the expansion of local-currency financing and mechanisms for long-term financing, emphasizing the need to complement domestic resources with international development finance. The Finance Minister reiterated the significance of expanding financing options for SMEs, entrepreneurs, agriculture, and housing to spur private investment and business growth.

The meeting concluded with a mutual commitment to strengthen cooperation on private-sector financing and infrastructure development, aiming to support entrepreneurship and attract greater domestic and international capital for Pakistan’s sustainable growth.