KARACHI: Pakistan’s finance chief and prime minister’s aide on privatization on Tuesday arrived in London on a mission to unlock new investment channels, the Pakistani finance and privatization ministries said, amid the country’s push to drive sustainable economic progress.
Pakistan is striving to draw overseas investment amid a gradually healing macroeconomic environment after a prolonged downturn that forced Islamabad to seek external financing from friendly nations and multiple loan programs with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). In recent months, the Pakistani government has pursued aggressive economic diplomacy in recent years, signing several agreements and memoranda of understanding with countries in Central Asia and the Middle East.
During the visit, the Pakistani delegation, comprising Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb and PM’s aide Muhammad Ali, will hold crucial meetings with executives from renowned firms, including TTB Partners, STJ Partners, Deutsche Bank, Berenberg Bank, and Amundi Fund Group, to spotlight Pakistan’s privatization roadmap and its growing potential as a hub for strategic, long-term investment.
“Accompanied by the finance minister, the visit marks a strategic push to deepen Pakistan’s ties with top-tier global investors and financial institutions. A centerpiece of the visit will be Mr. Muhammad Ali’s participation in Pakistan Investors Day, hosted by [US-based investment bank] Jefferies on May 8,” the Pakistani privatization ministry said.
“This exclusive event offers a powerful platform to showcase Pakistan’s robust investment landscape, ongoing economic reforms, and the government’s unwavering commitment to transparency and investor confidence.”
The officials aim to project the South Asian country as a compelling destination for global capital, with an ambitious reform agenda and a firm focus on private sector-led development.
During the three-day visit, Finance Minister Aurangzeb will meet British officials, investors, financial institutions, investment banks, business firms and organizations. He will attend multiple investment forums and seminars where he will outline Pakistan’s economic trajectory, according to his ministry.
In addition to meetings with private sector leaders, Aurangzeb will visit the UK Treasury Department for talks with Financial Secretary Lord Livermore and senior officials. He will also meet Hamish Nickells-Falconer, the UK’s Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Middle East, Afghanistan and Pakistan at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).
During the trip, he is expected to hold a series of question-and-answer sessions with selected representatives from international and British media outlets.
“This visit reflects Pakistan’s forward-looking vision,” Ali was quoted as saying by the privatization ministry. “We are here to build trust, forge partnerships, and demonstrate that Pakistan is open for business— with a clear agenda for growth, stability, and opportunity.”
Top Pakistani officials arrive in London on ‘mission’ to unlock new investment channels
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Top Pakistani officials arrive in London on ‘mission’ to unlock new investment channels
- The development comes amid Islamabad’s push to drive sustainable economic progress after a meltdown forced it to seek external financing
- The finance chief, PM’s aide will spotlight Pakistan’s privatization roadmap and its growing potential as a hub for long-term investment
Pakistan has ruled out military operation in northwestern Tirah Valley
- Residents in northwestern Tirah Valley fled their homes this month fearing a military operation against militants
- Defense minister says army conducting intelligence-based operations in area, residents’ migration “routine” practice
Islamabad: Defense Minister Khawaja Asif on Tuesday clarified that the military was not conducting a military operation in the northwestern Tirah Valley, saying that the ongoing residents’ migration from the area was a routine practice that has been going on for several years.
The defense minister’s clarification came as residents of Tirah Valley in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province bordering Afghanistan fled their homes this month, fearing a planned military operation by the army against militants, particularly the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) group.
Pakistan’s information ministry on Sunday issued a clarification that the armed forces were not involved in the “depopulation” of the valley. It pointed to a notification from the provincial Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Relief, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Department in December which demanded the release of funds, reportedly Rs4 billion [$14.24 million], for the voluntary movement of people from Tirah Valley.
Speaking to reporters at a news conference alongside Information Minister Attaullah Tarar and Special Assistant to the PM for Information and KP Affairs Ikhtiar Wali Khan, Asif said the last military operation in the area was conducted several years ago. He said the military had decided that intelligence-based operations (IBOs) were more effective than military operations as they resulted in lower civilian casualties.
“So over a long period of time, the army gave up [military] operation in favor of IBOs,” Asif said. “For many years this practice has been continuing. Hence, there is no question of an operation there.”
The defense minister described the migration of residents from Tirah Valley as a “routine” practice due to the harsh cold.
He criticized the provincial government, led by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party for not serving the people of the area, accusing it of not building any schools, hospitals, or police stations in Tirah Valley.
Asif said around 400-500 TTP members lived in the valley with their families, alleging that hemp was being harvested there on over 12,000 acres of land. He said that while hemp is also used for medicinal and construction purposes, its dividends were going to militants and politicians.
“All of this hemp is harvested there and the dividends from it either go to the people associated with politics or the TTP,” the minister said.
“We have initiated the process to stop this so that the people benefit from this harvest and so that schools and hospitals are constructed there.”
The minister said that a district-level jirga or tribal council met representatives of the KP government on Dec. 11, 24 and 31 to decide matters related to the residents’ migration in the area.
Holding up the KP Relief, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Department notification, Asif said:
“In the presence of this notification, in the presence of this tribal council and in the presence of all of these things, where do you see the army?“
The minister accused the provincial government of deflecting its “failures” in the province to the armed forces or to a military operation that did not exist.
The migration has exposed tensions between the provincial government and the military establishment over the use of force in the region.
KP Law Minister Aftab Alam Afridi said earlier this month that the provincial government will not allow a military operation to take place in the area, arguing that past military campaigns had failed to deliver lasting stability.
