Islamabad, October 9,2026: Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb has highlighted Pakistan’s improving economic outlook and investment potential, calling for stronger bilateral trade, increased foreign investment and private-sector-led growth.
He expressed these views while hosting a luncheon in honor of a Dutch business delegation led by the Founders Carbon Network (FCN), accompanied by Ambassador of the Netherlands to Pakistan Robert-Jan Siegert.
The event was attended by the adviser to the prime minister on privatization, the governor of the State Bank of Pakistan, the commerce secretary and senior officials of the Finance Division.
Welcoming the delegation, Aurangzeb appreciated its interest in Pakistan and emphasized the need to strengthen business-to-business (B2B) linkages, promote mutual understanding and expand economic cooperation between the two countries.
He said sustained engagement between Pakistani and Dutch businesses could help identify commercially viable investment opportunities, develop partnerships and boost investor confidence.
The finance minister said the gains achieved through economic stabilization must translate into productive investment, capital formation, export growth and employment generation.
He stressed that the next phase of Pakistan’s economic development should focus on export-oriented growth, higher productivity and greater private-sector participation, supported by structural reforms and increased mobilization of private capital.
Outlining the government’s economic priorities, Aurangzeb underscored the importance of consolidating macroeconomic stability, strengthening fiscal and external-sector resilience, and promoting sustainable and inclusive growth.
He also called for a shift from aid dependence toward trade and investment, improved access to finance for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), agriculture and housing, and greater financial inclusion for underserved communities. He highlighted the potential of digitalization and emerging technologies to support Pakistan’s participation in the global digital economy.
Referring to Pakistan’s external position, Aurangzeb said foreign exchange reserves had reached $21.4 billion, providing more than three months of import cover.
He emphasized that sustaining these gains and strengthening the economy’s resilience against external shocks were essential to maintaining investor confidence and supporting long-term growth.
The finance minister identified rapid population growth and climate change as two major challenges facing Pakistan, calling for sustained policy attention and coordinated reforms to address their implications for economic sustainability, human development and national resilience.
Highlighting opportunities for closer Pakistan-Netherlands cooperation, he said Dutch expertise, technology and investment could complement Pakistan’s development priorities across key sectors.
He identified public-private partnerships as an important mechanism for mobilizing private capital, leveraging specialized expertise and turning investment interest into commercially viable projects.
The adviser to the prime minister on privatization reaffirmed the government’s commitment to expanding private-sector participation through privatization and public-private partnerships, saying these initiatives aimed to improve efficiency, attract investment and create opportunities for private enterprise.
The State Bank governor emphasized the importance of maintaining macroeconomic stability, strengthening external-sector resilience and ensuring that financial-sector reforms supported productive economic activity. He also highlighted efforts to facilitate trade through the Trade Facilitation Board by addressing barriers and improving institutional coordination.
Members of the Dutch delegation shared their views on Pakistan’s business environment and prospects for expanding bilateral cooperation. Discussions focused on strengthening B2B engagement, identifying areas of mutual interest and developing commercially viable partnerships between Pakistani and Dutch enterprises.
The meeting underscored the shared commitment to translating stronger business relations into increased trade, investment and long-term economic partnerships. The government reiterated its resolve to provide an enabling environment for international investors and encourage greater private-sector participation in Pakistan’s economic development.
