Govt outlines reform agenda to China, Saudi Arabia

April 24, 2025 (MLN): Pakistan is pushing forward with structural reforms across key economic sectors as part of its ongoing commitment under the IMF’s Extended Fund Facility, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb told top Chinese and Saudi officials in high-level meetings this week.

In discussions with Chinese Finance Minister Lan Fo’an on the sidelines of the IMF–World Bank Spring Meetings in Washington, Aurangzeb highlighted the government’s policy drive in areas including taxation, energy, privatization, public finance, and state-owned enterprises.

The talks marked a follow-up to their last engagement in Beijing in July 2024.

The Pakistani side reaffirmed its determination to stay the course on difficult but necessary reforms aimed at restoring macroeconomic stability and unlocking foreign investment.

Aurangzeb also reiterated Islamabad’s request to expedite the long-anticipated Panda Bond issuance, calling for the support of the People’s Bank of China (PBOC).

Separately, Aurangzeb met with Saudi Finance Minister Mohammed Aljadaan, welcoming Riyadh’s continued backing for Pakistan’s economy and broader reform efforts.

Both sides discussed the importance of translating existing investment interest into actionable deals as Pakistan eyes deeper Gulf cooperation in its privatization and energy transition agendas.

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