Pakistan finmin in Washington for IMF, World Bank annual meetings, MENAP forum

Pakistan Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb speaks during a Reuters interview at the 2025 annual IMF/World Bank Spring Meetings in Washington DC, US, April 25, 2025. (Reuters/File)
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Updated 12 October 2025
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Pakistan finmin in Washington for IMF, World Bank annual meetings, MENAP forum

  • Muhammad Aurangzeb to meet IMF, World Bank heads, deliver keynote at MENAP forum
  • Visit comes as Pakistan seeks to unlock next IMF loan tranche amid economic strain 

KARACHI: Pakistan’s Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb arrived in Washington on Sunday to attend the annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank, where he will hold a series of high-level talks on investment, taxation and economic reforms, the Ministry of Finance said.

The visit comes as Pakistan engages with the International Monetary Fund to unlock the next tranche of its $7 billion loan program approved in September 2024, aimed at supporting economic stabilization and structural reforms. 

According to the statement, the finance minister will attend more than 65 events, meetings and roundtables during his visit, including two key sessions hosted by the World Economic Forum (WEF), and will outline Pakistan’s economic priorities and investment opportunities to international partners.

“Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb will represent Pakistan at the plenary meetings of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund,” the ministry said in a statement.

“He will meet IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva, World Bank President Ajay Banga, and other senior officials of international financial institutions during his visit to the United States.”

At the IMF’s Middle East, North Africa and Pakistan (MENAP) platform, Aurangzeb will meet Georgieva and deliver a keynote address on Pakistan’s economic outlook and reform agenda.

The finance minister will also take part in a regional roundtable on the digital transformation of Pakistan’s Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), alongside tax authorities from other countries.

During his six-day visit, Aurangzeb is scheduled to meet his counterparts from China, the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Azerbaijan. His engagements also include meetings with senior officials at the White House, the US Treasury Department, the International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), and the US Pakistan Business Council.

He is also expected to meet representatives of global credit-rating agencies, commercial banks, including Middle Eastern investment banks, and major U.S. think tanks such as the Atlantic Council and the Peterson Institute for International Economics.


Sri Lanka wins toss and fielding first against Pakistan in 1st ODI

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Sri Lanka wins toss and fielding first against Pakistan in 1st ODI

  • Sri Lanka wins toss and fielding first against Pakistan in 1st ODI
  • xPakistan replace leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed with right-arm fast bowler Naseem Shah

RAWALPINDI, Pakistan: Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to field against Pakistan in their one-day international on Tuesday.

Captain Charith Asalanka said he expected dew later in the night at Pindi Cricket Stadium and was encouraged to bowl first.

Ace leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga has returned to the ODI format and a debut was handed to 24-year-old left-handed opener Kamil Mishara.

Pakistan made one forced change from the team which won the third and decisive ODI against South Africa last Saturday. Leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed, who bagged a career-best 4-27 on Saturday, was unwell and replaced by fast bowler Naseem Shah.

In the absence of specialist spinner Abrar, Pakistan will bank on spin all-rounders Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha and Mohammad Nawaz.

Rawalpindi will host all the three ODIs in the series this week before Zimbabwe joins Pakistan and Sri Lanka for a Twenty20 tri-series.

Pakistan, led by new ODI captain Shaheen Shah Afridi, turned around its below-par performances in 2025 by beating a depleted South Africa 2-1 last week.

Lineups:

Pakistan: Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Salman Ali Agha, Hussain Talat, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Shah Afridi (captain), Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah.

Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Kusal Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka (captain), Janith Liyanage, Kamindu Mendis, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dushmantha Chameera, Maheesh Theekshana, Asitha Fernando.