London: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif engaged in a series of discussions with senior executives from major global financial institutions in London, signaling increased international interest in Pakistan’s economic reforms and investment potential.

According to High Commission For Pakistan – United Kingdom, the Prime Minister met with representatives from Barclays, J.P. Morgan, Citi, BlackRock, and Rothschild & Co. During these meetings, he underscored Pakistan’s macroeconomic stabilization efforts and encouraged these institutions to explore opportunities in the nation’s financial sector.

In his meeting with Mr. Mohammad Kamal Syed of Barclays, Prime Minister Sharif highlighted the bank’s potential involvement in Pakistan’s financial sector. Discussions with Mr. Matthieu Wiltz of J.P. Morgan focused on expanding their partnership in capital markets and investment banking, with an invitation to broaden their presence in the country.

The Prime Minister also acknowledged Citi’s historical presence in Pakistan in discussions with its delegation led by Mr. David Livingstone and encouraged further expansion of its services. BlackRock’s representatives, including Gordon Fraser and Sam Vecht, discussed increasing allocations to Pakistani financial assets, emphasizing the need for policy consistency to bolster investor confidence.

A meeting with Rothschild & Co’s Lord Mark Sedwill and Mr. Majid Ishaq revolved around Pakistan’s geo-economic priorities and potential advisory roles in capital markets. All executives expressed confidence in Pakistan’s reform progress and committed to enhancing engagement with its financial sector.

These meetings underscore the traction of Pakistan’s economic reform agenda among leading global financial entities and represent a significant step toward bolstering international investor trust and attracting capital inflows into the country. Finance Minister Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb and Advisor to the Prime Minister on Privatization Muhammad Ali were also in attendance.