Riyadh: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif met with World Economic Forum (WEF) President and CEO Børge Brende in Riyadh today on the sidelines of the 9th Future Investment Initiative. The meeting, initiated by the WEF leadership, aimed to formally invite the Prime Minister to the Annual Meeting of the WEF in Davos, scheduled for January next year.

The Prime Minister expressed appreciation for the ongoing engagement between Pakistan and the WEF. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to deepening its connections with the Forum’s global business and innovation network.

Upon receiving the invitation for the 2026 WEF Annual meeting, the Prime Minister assured that Pakistan would be well represented at Davos next year.

During the meeting, discussions centered on Pakistan’s economy. The Prime Minister outlined the government’s structural economic reforms focused on stabilization, fiscal discipline, investment, and digital transformation. He noted satisfaction with the improved macro-economic indicators over the past 18 months, emphasizing export-led growth, public-private partnerships, and leveraging Pakistan’s youthful workforce and expanding IT sector.

The Prime Minister also welcomed the WEF’s partnership on developing resilient food systems, crucial for Pakistan’s agrarian economy. He underscored the importance of peace as a pathway to prosperity and highlighted Pakistan’s role as a bridge connecting South Asia, Central Asia, and the Middle East.

WEF President Brende expressed gratitude for Pakistan’s active engagement with the WEF and looked forward to continued collaboration, aiming for a mutually beneficial partnership.