Federal Finance Minister Mohammad Aurangzeb held significant meetings on the opening day of the IMF and World Bank spring meetings in Washington.
In his meeting with IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva, the Finance Minister reaffirmed Pakistan's commitment to continuing reforms. He also extended an invitation from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for his to visit Pakistan.
During his visit, Mohammad Aurangzeb also met with the Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of the Treasury and World Bank officials. Additionally, he attended a luncheon hosted by the U.S.-Pakistan Business Council, where he engaged with American business leaders.
Finance Minister began his Washington visit with a series of high-level meetings on the first day of the IMF and World Bank Group's annual Spring Meetings. He met with IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva, expressing gratitude for the staff-level agreement and the initiation of the Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF). He also reaffirmed the government's commitment to continuing institutional reforms.
In a meeting with U.S. Assistant Secretary of the Treasury Robert Kaproth, Aurangzeb provided an update on the improvement of Pakistan's economic indicators. He also discussed ongoing reforms related to the tax system, public institutions, pensions, and debt management.
During a meeting with World Bank Group President Ajay Banga, the Finance Minister emphasized the importance of the Country Partnership Framework in addressing challenges posed by population growth and climate change.
The Finance Minister also attended a luncheon hosted by the U.S.-Pakistan Business Council, where he had discussions with American business leaders about regional trade and market diversification. He reiterated Pakistan's commitment to continued cooperation with the United States, particularly in the minerals sector.
Senator Mohammad Aurangzeb concluded the day by meeting with the Secretary-General of the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF) and V20, Mohammad Nasheed. The Finance Minister highlighted the importance of four out of six key outcomes from the CVF, which he considers crucial for Pakistan’s efforts to tackle climate challenges. He reiterated the government's commitment to completing projects through phased financial assistance.