Washington, D.C.: Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue, Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb, addressed the Atlantic Council, focusing on “Pakistan’s Path to Reform and Resilience.”

According to Press Information Department, the Finance Minister emphasized Pakistan’s role as a constructive force in global affairs, citing its involvement in mediating a ceasefire between the United States and Iran. On the economic front, he noted Pakistan’s macroeconomic stabilization achievements, supported by the International Monetary Fund’s ongoing program and strong fiscal and external account performance. He reiterated the country’s commitment to fulfilling its obligations as a responsible sovereign borrower.

The Finance Minister described positive outcomes from discussions with the Saudi Finance Minister, which included extended maturities and additional financial support to alleviate repayment pressures. He outlined the government’s structural reform agenda, highlighting initiatives such as privatizing state-owned enterprises, rightsizing federal ministries, and enhancing public finance management systems.

He discussed Pakistan’s digital transformation efforts to reduce leakages and improve service delivery, aiming to enable better-targeted subsidy programs through digital public infrastructure. The Finance Minister also noted a shift in Pakistan-United States relations towards a trade-based partnership, with ongoing discussions on critical minerals and infrastructure development.

Concluding his remarks, he addressed Pakistan’s energy transition agenda, noting its current solar capacity and plans to expand renewable energy. The session ended with an interactive question and answer session.