KARACHI: Pakistan’s Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb left for the United States on Saturday to attend the World Bank/International Monetary Fund (IMF) Spring Meetings 2025, the finance ministry said.
Leading finance ministers and officials of the World Bank and the IMF will gather in Washington D.C. to attend the spring meetings from Apr. 21-26.
Aurangzeb will meet with top officials of the World Bank and IMF, and interact with the finance ministers from China, the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye, the finance ministry said.
“The Finance Minister will clarify the country’s economic scenario while addressing investment forums and seminars during the visit,” the statement said.
Aurangzeb will meet officials of the US State and Treasury Departments as well as those from global credit rating agencies, commercial and investment banks.
“During the visit, the Finance Minister will attend the 13th Ministerial Meeting of the Coalition of Finance Ministers for Climate Action,” the ministry said.
Aurangzeb will address a roundtable discussion with institutional investors organized by Jefferies International, titled: ‘Pakistan’s Economic Outlook, Recent Fiscal and Monetary Developments and Progress on Reforms and Engagement with the IMF.’
The finance minister will also address a session organized by the Center for Global Development (CGD) on ongoing reforms in Pakistan and future challenges that the country faces.
Aurangzeb will meet Garji Ghosh, the president of the Global Policy and Advocacy Division, Gates Foundation and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands.
“Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb will visit leading think tanks in the US,” the ministry said, adding that he will also meet international and US media representatives.
Aurangzeb’s visit takes place as Pakistan tries to recover from a prolonged macroeconomic crisis via financial reforms mandated by the IMF.
The IMF staff reached a deal with Pakistan for a new $1.3 billion arrangement last month and also agreed on the first review of the ongoing 37-month bailout program. Pending board approval, Pakistan can unlock the $1.3 billion under a new climate resilience loan program spanning 28 months.
The IMF will also release $1 billion for Pakistan under its $7 billion bailout program, which would bring those disbursements to $2 billion.
Pakistan’s finance minister departs for US to attend World Bank-IMF Spring Meetings
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Pakistan’s finance minister departs for US to attend World Bank-IMF Spring Meetings
- World Bank/IMF Spring Meetings 2025 will be held from Apr. 21-26 in Washington D.C.
- Aurangzeb to address investment forums, meet counterparts from other countries
Pakistan launches final nationwide polio drive of 2025 to vaccinate 45 million children
- Campaign comes as Pakistan records 30 polio cases this year, one of only two countries where virus is endemic
- Health minister urges parents to welcome vaccinators as insecurity, misinformation hinder eradication efforts
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Thursday launched its final polio vaccination campaign of the year, with Health Minister Mustafa Kamal administering drops to children under five as part of a nationwide effort to reach 45 million children, the country’s polio program said.
The Dec. 15–21 drive is part of Pakistan’s decades-long struggle to eliminate wild poliovirus. Pakistan and neighboring Afghanistan are the only two countries where the virus remains endemic, keeping global eradication efforts at risk.
Pakistan has reported 30 polio cases so far this year. The incurable and highly infectious virus can cause lifelong paralysis and can only be prevented through repeated oral vaccinations and routine immunization, health officials say.
“I want to take this opportunity to speak directly to parents and caregivers. When our polio vaccinator knocks at your door, I urge you to welcome them in and ensure that every child under five in your house receives two drops of this essential vaccine,” the polio program quoted Health Minister Kamal as saying.
“I also urge you to advocate for vaccination in your families and communities and create a welcoming environment for our vaccinators.”
The new campaign comes days after Pakistan conducted a nationwide measles, rubella and polio vaccination drive from Nov. 17–29, which targeted 22.9 million children across 89 high-risk districts.
Pakistan recorded 74 polio cases in 2024, a steep rise from six in 2023 and just one in 2021, underscoring the volatility of eradication efforts in a country where misinformation, vaccine hesitancy and political instability have repeatedly disrupted progress.
Violence has also hampered the program. Polio teams and their security escorts have been attacked frequently by militants and religious hard-liners in parts of northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and southwestern Balochistan. Officials say continued security threats, coupled with natural disasters such as recent flooding, pose major obstacles to reaching every child.
Pakistan has drastically reduced polio prevalence since the 1990s, when annual cases exceeded 20,000. By 2018, the number had fallen to eight. But health authorities warn that without consistent access to children, particularly in high-risk, underserved region, eradication will remain out of reach.
