ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Muhammad Aurangzeb held a meeting with the representatives of S&P Global and Fitch Ratings on the margin of the IMF, World Bank Spring Meetings in Washington D.C.
During the meetings, he underlined positive indicators of the country on the back of the Standby Arrangement inked with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), according to a press release issued on Sunday.
The minister provided details on the government’s ongoing reforms in priority areas, including energy, taxation, and privatization over short, medium and long-term horizons. He also referred to his recent engagements with the President of the World Bank, the Managing Director of the IMF, and heads of multilateral institutions including the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and Asian Development Bank.
The minister reaffirmed that the World Bank’s agenda aligns with Pakistan’s priorities on climate change, digitalization, and human development.
The finance minister addressed the rating agencies’ concerns related to the external position of Pakistan, its primary fiscal balance, inflation levels, and the interest rate regime.
Finance Minister’s Other Engagements
His other engagements included interaction with officers of the Embassy of Pakistan, Washington, media interviews with the Voice of America and The National and Press Conference with Pakistani media.
He is leading Pakistan’s delegation in the IMF, World Bank’s 2024 Spring Meetings being held in Washington DC. Other delegates include Finance Secretary Imdad Ullah Bosal, Secretary Economic Affairs Division Dr. Kazim Niaz, Governor State Bank of Pakistan Jameel Ahmed, and Senior Joint Secretary, Economic Affairs Division Adil Akbar Khan.
