LONDON: Leading global financial institutions have expressed confidence in Pakistan’s economic reform momentum and reaffirmed their commitment to expanding engagement with the country’s financial sector.
Senior executives from Barclays, J.P. Morgan, Citi, BlackRock and Rothschild & Co conveyed the views during meetings with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in London on Tuesday.
The engagements reflected growing international interest in Pakistan’s economic reform trajectory and improving investment climate.
Barclays, J.P. Morgan explore investment opportunities
During his meeting with Mohammad Kamal Syed, Head of Private Bank and Wealth Management UK at Barclays, the Prime Minister welcomed the bank’s interest in Pakistan and briefed him on the government’s macroeconomic stabilisation measures. He encouraged Barclays to explore opportunities in the country’s financial sector.
At a meeting with a high-level J.P. Morgan delegation led by Matthieu Wiltz, Co-CEO for EMEA, the Prime Minister discussed expanding cooperation in capital markets, trade finance and investment banking, and invited the firm to increase its presence in Pakistan. The delegation reaffirmed its interest in sovereign debt capital markets and corporate banking opportunities.
Citi, BlackRock discuss expanding engagement
The Prime Minister also met senior Citi officials led by David Livingstone, Chief Client Officer. He appreciated the bank’s long-standing presence in Pakistan and encouraged it to expand its corporate and institutional banking services in the country.
During a meeting with a BlackRock delegation comprising Gordon Fraser and Sam Vecht, Co-Heads of Emerging and Frontier Markets, and Emily Fletcher, Portfolio Manager and Research Analyst, the Prime Minister invited the firm to increase its allocations to Pakistani equities and fixed-income instruments under its frontier markets strategy.
Both sides stressed the importance of consistent policies in strengthening investor confidence.
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif held a series of meetings today with senior executives from leading global financial institutions — Barclays, J.P. Morgan, Citi, BlackRock and Rothschild & Co — during his visit to the United Kingdom. The engagements underscored growing… pic.twitter.com/dJY0QNy9X4
— Prime Minister’s Office (@PakPMO) September 29, 2026
Rothschild & Co eyes advisory cooperation
In talks with Rothschild & Co representatives Lord Mark Sedwill, Chair of Geostrategic Advisory, and Majid Ishaq, Head of UK Investment Banking, discussions focused on Pakistan’s geo-economic priorities and potential advisory cooperation in capital markets and investment strategy.
The meetings underscored growing international financial-sector interest in Pakistan’s economic reform programme.
The engagements also mark a significant step in the government’s broader effort to strengthen international investor confidence and attract sustained capital flows into the country.
