Islamabad: In a significant meeting held at the Finance Division today, the Ambassador of Finland to Pakistan, H.E. Mr. Hannu Ripatti, met with Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb to discuss various aspects of bilateral economic relations. The meeting highlighted Pakistan’s recent economic progress and explored avenues for further collaboration between the two nations.

According to Press Information Department, during the meeting, Minister Aurangzeb detailed Pakistan’s economic advancements, including increased tax collection, rising remittances, and a boost in foreign exchange reserves, which now exceed USD 9 billion. He also pointed out the positive feedback from international credit rating agencies and shared details about Pakistan’s engagement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), including the successful completion of a 9-month SBA and the initiation of a new 37-month program.

The discussions also covered several key reforms being implemented in Pakistan, such as the end-to-end digitization of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), restructuring of state-owned enterprises, and shifts towards an export-led growth model. Ambassador Ripatti expressed appreciation for Pakistan’s reform efforts and noted the positive impact on Finnish companies operating in the country.

Additionally, the meeting touched on Finland’s support for Pakistan in renewing its GSP Plus status, which is crucial for the country’s export sector. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the economic and diplomatic ties that underpin the relationship between Pakistan and Finland, aiming to foster mutual economic stability and growth.