Pakistan courts global financial giants for deeper investment

September 30, 2026 (MLN): Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif held meetings in London with senior executives of Barclays, J.P. Morgan, Citi, BlackRock and Rothschild & Co to discuss investment, capital markets and financial-sector opportunities in Pakistan.

The meetings focused on Pakistan’s economic reform programme, financial-sector engagement, capital markets, trade finance and potential expansion of international financial institutions’ activities in the country.

During a meeting with Mohammad Kamal Syed, Head of Private Bank and Wealth Management UK at Barclays, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif discussed Pakistan’s macroeconomic stabilization measures and encouraged the bank to explore opportunities in the country’s financial sector.

A J.P. Morgan delegation led by Matthieu Wiltz, Co-CEO for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, discussed deeper cooperation in capital markets, trade finance and investment banking.

The delegation also expressed interest in sovereign debt capital markets and corporate banking opportunities in Pakistan.

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif separately met senior Citi officials led by David Livingstone, Chief Client Officer, and encouraged the bank to expand its corporate and institutional banking services in Pakistan.

During a meeting with BlackRock representatives Gordon Fraser, Sam Vecht and Emily Fletcher, discussions covered potential allocations to Pakistani equities and fixed-income assets under the firm’s frontier-markets strategy.

The talks also highlighted the importance of policy consistency for investor confidence and longer-term capital allocation.

Discussions with Rothschild & Co, represented by Lord Mark Sedwill and Majid Ishaq, focused on Pakistan’s geo-economic priorities and potential advisory cooperation in capital markets and investment strategy.

The meetings form part of the government’s broader effort to deepen engagement between Pakistan and international financial institutions and attract foreign investment.

Finance Minister Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb and Advisor to Prime Minister on Privatization and Chairman Privatization Commission Muhammad Ali also attended the meetings.

The discussions covered Pakistan’s reform trajectory, investment climate and opportunities for greater participation by international financial institutions in the country’s financial markets.

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