KARACHI: Pakistan’s Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb has left for the United States (US) to participate in the International Monetary Fund-World Bank spring meetings, the Pakistani finance ministry said on Saturday, adding the minister will pitch reforms and share the country’s investment outlook at the meetings.
The IMF-World Bank spring meetings, scheduled to be held in Washington on April 13-18, will bring together central bankers, finance ministers and private sector leaders to discuss the global economy and financial stability, featuring seminars, briefings and plenary sessions, including the International Monetary and Financial Committee (IMFC).
It comes at a time when the world is grappling with the financial impact of the United States-Israel war on Iran, which has disrupted global energy and cargo supplies through the Strait of Hormuz, with IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva urging governments to “do no harm” as they face the massive economic shocks.
During his visit, the finance minister will represent Pakistan at important events organized by the IMF and the World Bank Group, and will participate in a wide range of multilateral and bilateral engagements with global financial leaders, development partners, and policymakers, according to the Pakistani finance ministry.
“The Finance Minister will participate in investment forums and roundtable discussions with institutional investors, including sessions organized by Jefferies, JP Morgan and Citibank, where he will highlight Pakistan’s improving macroeconomic indicators, reform agenda, and investment potential,” the Pakistani finance ministry said.
A key highlight of the visit will be Pakistan’s participation in a World Bank–hosted roundtable on ‘Delivering Social Protection Digitally: Lessons and Innovations from Pakistan, Middle East and North Africa,’ where Pakistan will showcase its experience in developing and scaling government-to-person (G2P) payment systems.
On the sidelines of the spring meetings, Aurangzeb is scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with senior leadership of international financial institutions. He will visit Boston to attend the Pakistan Conference at Harvard University, where he will engage with leading academics, policymakers, and members of the Pakistani diaspora, and share Pakistan’s economic outlook, reform trajectory, and growth prospects.
The finance minister will also participate in key multilateral forums, including the G-24 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors’ Meetings, the Coalition of Finance Ministers for Climate Action as well as contribute to a series of high-level roundtables and policy discussions, including the Borrowers’ Platform and sessions focused on global economic stability, financial reforms, climate finance, and development priorities.
“As part of his engagements with the United States Administration, the Finance Minister will meet senior officials of the US State Department and the US Department of the Treasury, as well as Mr. Jamieson Greer, the United States Trade Representative (USTR), to further strengthen bilateral economic cooperation and discuss support for Pakistan’s reform agenda,” his ministry said.
“The Finance Minister will also participate in a dedicated event on Roshan Digital Accounts (RDA) and remittances, being organized in collaboration with the State Bank of Pakistan at the Embassy of Pakistan in Washington, D.C., aimed at engaging the Pakistani diaspora and promoting remittance inflows through formal channels.”
The finance ministry said the visit underscores Pakistan’s commitment to macroeconomic stability, structural reforms, and strengthening partnerships with international financial institutions and global stakeholders to achieve “sustainable and inclusive economic growth.”
