Islamabad (TDI): Pakistan and the United States reaffirmed their commitment to deepening economic cooperation during a meeting between Pakistan’s Finance Minister and John Mark Pommersheim, Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs at the US Department of State.
Pommersheim was accompanied by Natalie A. Baker, the US Chargé d’Affaires to Pakistan. Finance Minister Aurangzeb acknowledged the United States’ longstanding support for Pakistan’s economic development, particularly its engagement in multilateral financial frameworks.
Discussions focused on Pakistan’s economic outlook, reform agenda, and opportunities to strengthen bilateral economic ties. The Finance Minister briefed the delegation on Pakistan’s macroeconomic stabilization efforts, emphasizing a transition toward sustainable, export-led growth.
He noted improvements in key economic indicators, including a narrowing fiscal deficit and a stronger current account position, supported by robust remittance inflows and growth in information technology exports.
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He also cited positive movement in the country’s credit ratings as a sign of renewed economic stability. According to the Minister, the government remains committed to maintaining fiscal discipline, ensuring external stability, and advancing structural reforms aimed at fostering durable economic growth.
He underscored ongoing reforms in state-owned enterprises and efforts to right-size the public sector to enhance efficiency and reduce fiscal risks.
Highlighting growing investor confidence, the Minister pointed to recent indigenous investment initiatives and increased private-sector participation as indicators of improving market sentiment.
He reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to facilitating foreign investment and maintaining active engagement with the U.S. business community, including the US Chamber of Commerce and the American Business Council.
Pommersheim acknowledged Pakistan’s progress toward fiscal stabilization and welcomed improvements in macroeconomic indicators.
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He reaffirmed that the United States values a stable and prosperous Pakistan and emphasized that strengthening the investment climate remains a shared priority.
He noted that US businesses are closely monitoring reform developments and that greater policy consistency would help encourage deeper commercial engagement.
Minister Aurangzeb also outlined Pakistan’s plans to re-enter international capital markets, including the issuance of Panda Bonds, as part of a broader strategy to diversify financing sources.
On privatization, he reaffirmed the government’s intention to proceed expeditiously, citing upcoming transactions in the banking and power distribution sectors and the outsourcing of major airports, beginning with Islamabad.
