London: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif held a series of meetings today with senior executives from leading global financial institutions, including Barclays, J.P. Morgan, Citi, BlackRock, and Rothschild & Co, during his visit to the United Kingdom. The engagements highlighted the growing interest of the international financial sector in Pakistan’s economic reform trajectory and improving investment climate.
According to Press Information Department, the Prime Minister met with Mr. Mohammad Kamal Syed, Head of Private Bank and Wealth Management UK at Barclays, welcoming the bank’s interest in Pakistan. He briefed Syed on the government’s macroeconomic stabilization measures and encouraged Barclays to explore opportunities in the country’s financial sector.
In discussions with a high-level J.P. Morgan delegation led by Mr. Matthieu Wiltz, Co-CEO for EMEA, the Prime Minister focused on deepening partnerships across capital markets, trade finance, and investment banking, inviting the firm to expand its presence in Pakistan. The delegation reaffirmed interest in sovereign debt capital markets and corporate banking opportunities.
The Prime Minister also met with senior officials from Citi, led by Mr. David Livingstone, Chief Client Officer. He commended the bank’s long-standing presence in Pakistan and encouraged the expansion of its corporate and institutional banking services in the country.
During a meeting with a BlackRock delegation, including Gordon Fraser and Sam Vecht, Co-Heads of Emerging Markets and Frontiers, and Emily Fletcher, Portfolio Manager and Research Analyst, the Prime Minister invited increased allocations to Pakistani equities and fixed income within the firm’s frontier markets strategy. Both parties emphasized the importance of sustained policy consistency to build investor confidence.
In discussions with Rothschild & Co, represented by Lord Mark Sedwill, Chair of Geostrategic Advisory, and Mr. Majid Ishaq, Head of UK Investment Banking, the focus was on Pakistan’s geo-economic priorities and potential advisory collaboration on capital markets and investment strategy.
The visiting executives expressed confidence in Pakistan’s economic reform momentum and reaffirmed their institutions’ commitment to deepening engagement with the country’s financial sector. These meetings mark a significant step in the government’s broader effort to strengthen international investor confidence and attract sustained capital flows into the country.
Finance Minister Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb and Advisor to PM on Privatization and Chairman Privatization Commission Muhammad Ali were also present at the meetings.