London (GNP): The Pakistan High Commission in London hosted a “Pakistan Investment Roundtable,” bringing together leading investors and global financial management firms.
Federal Minister for Finance Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb delivered the keynote address at the event, which was also attended by State Bank of Pakistan Governor Jamil Ahmed, Advisor to the Finance Minister Khurram Schehzad, and Pakistan’s High Commissioner to the UK, Tipu Usman.
In his remarks, Aurangzeb reaffirmed the government’s commitment to macroeconomic stabilization and sustained economic growth, highlighting an ongoing structural reform agenda designed in part to support and empower the private sector.
He noted that fiscal consolidation efforts are already producing tangible results, including a primary surplus, reduced deficits, stronger revenue collection, and momentum on institutional and fiscal reforms.
The Finance Minister said the government has pursued reforms of state-owned enterprises alongside its privatization efforts, adding that ongoing reforms in the energy sector, along with improved financial transparency and ease of doing business, would further strengthen the government’s broader macroeconomic stability agenda.
Aurangzeb stressed the importance of expanding the tax base and strengthening enforcement to support economic growth, noting that discretionary powers previously held by tax authorities have been removed and that no group receives preferential tax treatment — while confirming that no new taxes have been imposed on salaried individuals.
He acknowledged that Pakistan’s economy faced setbacks last year due to widespread flooding across the country, compounded more recently by the impact of the Middle East conflict on global oil prices.
Despite these challenges, Aurangzeb said Pakistan remains open for business and is seeing renewed interest from international investors, pointing to the country’s successful, on-schedule completion of all IMF reviews — progress that has been reflected in three separate credit rating upgrades.
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During the interactive Q&A session that followed, the Finance Minister engaged with representatives from various financial institutions, with discussions centering on Pakistan’s economic outlook, investment climate, partnerships with international organizations, and potential opportunities across different sectors.
Sohail Majeed is a Special Correspondent at The Diplomatic Insight. He has twelve plus years of experience in journalism & reporting. He covers International Affairs, Diplomacy, UN, Sports, Climate Change, Economy, Technology, and Health.
