Pakistan stepped up its economic engagement with the U.S. during Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb's visit to Washington this week, holding talks on investment, development finance and access to international capital markets as Islamabad seeks to broaden its economic partnerships.
Pakistan is seeking to attract foreign investment and expand trade while implementing reforms under a $7 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme. The meetings also reflect Islamabad's broader effort to diversify sources of investment and external financing.
Aurangzeb met U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, officials from the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), executives from Honeywell Technologies and representatives of international banking groups.
According to Pakistan's Finance Ministry, Aurangzeb highlighted the country's progress from macroeconomic stabilisation towards export-led growth. He also sought greater U.S. support to improve Pakistan's access to international capital markets, strengthen foreign exchange reserves and enhance its sovereign credit rating.
The two sides reaffirmed their commitment to expanding economic cooperation and encouraging greater U.S. investment in Pakistan.
The finance minister also launched a strategic partnership with international banking consortia to support Pakistan's future sovereign bond and sukuk issuances over the next three years.
The Finance Ministry said the programme is intended to broaden Pakistan's access to international investors and create a more diversified external financing framework. It also marks the first inclusion of MUFG Securities Asia and Mashreq Bank in Pakistan's international financing programme.
Separately, Aurangzeb met executives from Honeywell Technologies to discuss modernising Pakistan's refinery sector. The talks covered potential financing from the U.S. Export-Import Bank, the DFC, export credit agencies and international lenders. The project is intended to increase domestic refining capacity and reduce reliance on imported petroleum products.
The Washington meetings illustrate Pakistan's efforts to deepen economic ties with the U.S. beyond trade discussions. Alongside IMF-backed reforms, Islamabad is seeking to attract investment, widen access to international capital markets and build new commercial partnerships.
Pakistan narrowly avoided sovereign default in 2023 before securing a $7 billion IMF programme. Although economic indicators have improved, the country continues to rely on external financing as it works to sustain its recovery and strengthen long-term economic growth.
Russian strikes on Ukraine’s energy and water systems, combined with damaged homes and rising living costs, could force more people to flee t...
The AnewZ documentary “Counterpoint: Two Centuries of German-Azerbaijani Shared History” investigates the story of German settlers who ...
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Saturday that a potential meeting between Ukraine, the United States and Russia could take place du...
The U.S. has banned government employees working in Saudi Arabia from using airports in the country without special authorisation. It comes after a deadly Houthi strike on Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport killed at least 13 people last week.
The Saudi-led coalition said early Thursday that it intercepted and destroyed a drone over Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province.
U.S. President Donald Trump has called it “a disgrace” that Ukraine has resumed attacks on Russian oil refineries. Attacks are continuing from Russia and Ukraine as media reports say Ukraine has almost run out of Patriot interceptor missiles.
Ukraine is set to restart attacks on Russian oil refineries following a two-day pause, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, amid growing tensions with Washington over energy strikes and U.S. military support.
An unknown projectile struck a tanker 68 nautical miles northeast of Saudi Arabia on Friday according to a report released by the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) on Saturday.
Uzbekistan welcomed 10.3 million foreign tourists in the first nine months of 2026, up 20.4 per cent year-on-year, as the Central Asian nation pushes towards its ambitious goal of attracting 20 million visitors annually by 2030.
In an interview with AnewZ’s Sabir Safarov, Houthi-aligned journalist Hussain al-Bukhaiti warns of possible attacks on Saudi Arabia’s water and power infrastructure, dismisses concerns over global trade and acknowledges Iranian assistance in developing the group’s missiles.
Armenia is looking to turn shared environmental challenges into opportunities for regional cooperation, with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan highlighting the potential for stronger ties with neighbouring countries through biodiversity protection.
Student organisations, opposition groups and youth-led activists took to the streets in Patna and Mumbai on Friday (16 October), demanding the resignation of India's Chief Election Commissioner, Gyanesh Kumar, amid a row over changes to voter lists.
The U.S. has banned government employees working in Saudi Arabia from using airports in the country without special authorisation. It comes after a deadly Houthi strike on Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport killed at least 13 people last week.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment