Islamabad, October 2, 2026: Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb and British High Commissioner to Pakistan Jane Marriott on Friday discussed Pakistan’s economic reform agenda and opportunities to expand bilateral trade and investment cooperation.
The British High Commissioner, accompanied by Development Director Sam Waldock and Senior Economist Louie Dane, called on the finance minister and exchanged views on economic reforms, private-sector development and measures to improve Pakistan’s investment environment.
Aurangzeb welcomed the British envoy and appreciated the United Kingdom’s continued support for Pakistan’s economic reform efforts through technical assistance, expertise and knowledge sharing.
He said Pakistan had moved from economic stabilisation towards sustainable, inclusive and responsible growth, with greater emphasis on productivity, investment, exports and job creation.
The finance minister outlined the government’s six key priorities: consolidating macroeconomic stability; transitioning from stabilisation to sustainable, inclusive and responsible growth; continuing structural reforms; shifting from aid to trade and investment; expanding access to finance; and positioning Pakistan for the New Economy.
The two sides discussed reform priorities, particularly fiscal management, tax administration, digitalisation, expenditure efficiency, trade and investment promotion, public investment and public-private partnerships.
Aurangzeb stressed the importance of effective coordination among institutions to ensure consistent implementation of reforms and create a more predictable environment for businesses and investors.
The discussion also covered regulatory reforms and measures aimed at improving the investment climate, including investor facilitation and aftercare, investment promotion mechanisms and the efficiency of key regulatory institutions.
The British High Commissioner highlighted the UK’s continued interest in supporting Pakistan’s economic transformation through technical assistance aimed at strengthening institutional and policy frameworks for investment, trade and private-sector development.
She also welcomed Pakistan’s successful issuance of a $3 billion dual-tranche sovereign Eurobond, describing it as an important development for investor confidence and access to international capital markets.
Public-private partnerships also came under discussion, with Aurangzeb stressing the need for stronger project preparation, commercially viable structures and enhanced institutional capacity to support PPP transactions.
The British side expressed interest in supporting these efforts through relevant technical expertise, including at the provincial level.
Aurangzeb also highlighted progress in macroeconomic stability, capital markets and the government’s ongoing privatisation programme, saying the reforms were intended to create greater space for domestic and international investment and move the economy towards investment-led and export-oriented growth.
The two sides discussed opportunities to increase bilateral trade and investment and encourage greater participation by UK businesses in Pakistan.
Marriott highlighted the potential contribution of UK companies and diaspora networks to private-sector development, including efforts to support the growth and internationalisation of small and medium-sized enterprises.
Opportunities in the aviation sector were also discussed, including potential international financing and investment. The British side highlighted the possible role of international financing partners, while the finance minister said relevant technical and commercial considerations would guide the process.
Aurangzeb also briefed the British delegation on Pakistan’s external financing strategy, including efforts to strengthen access to international capital markets, improve the quality and sustainability of financing, reduce refinancing pressures and expand access to longer-term and more competitive sources of capital.
Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to continued Pakistan-UK cooperation in economic reforms, institutional strengthening, trade and investment, with a shared focus on sustainable growth and greater opportunities for private-sector engagement.
