PR No. 239

Finance Minister, EU Ambassador Discuss Economic Cooperation and Investment Outlook

Islamabad: April 21, 2026

Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue, Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb, has underscored Pakistan’s steady return to macroeconomic stability and renewed engagement with international capital markets, highlighting growing investor confidence and the Government’s commitment to a structured and forward-looking economic reform agenda.

He noted that Pakistan has recently re-entered international capital markets after a four-year hiatus through a privately placed Eurobond transaction, which witnessed strong investor interest and was successfully upsized. The Minister emphasized that this milestone reflects improving economic fundamentals and signals a positive trajectory for Pakistan’s global financial integration.

Senator Aurangzeb further shared that the Government is actively pursuing a diversified capital markets strategy, including future international issuances and innovative financing instruments, aimed at strengthening external buffers and ensuring sustainable financing.

These views were shared during a meeting with H.E. Mr. Raimundas Karoblis, Ambassador of the European Union to Pakistan, who called on the Finance Minister at the Finance Division.

During the meeting, the EU Ambassador extended an invitation to the Finance Minister to participate in the High-Level EU–Pakistan Business Forum scheduled to be held on April 28, 2026, in Islamabad, which the Minister accepted. Senator Aurangzeb is also expected to deliver the keynote address at the opening plenary session on the theme “Pakistan Rising: Incentives, Reforms, and the Next Investment Frontier.”

The Finance Minister appreciated the European Union’s efforts in bringing together a large number of international and domestic business representatives, noting that such initiatives provide a valuable platform to showcase Pakistan’s improving business climate and investment potential, while fostering meaningful business-to-business engagement.

Senator Aurangzeb also highlighted the Government’s broader efforts to maintain macroeconomic stability, strengthen foreign exchange reserves, and advance structural reforms to support sustainable and inclusive growth. He acknowledged the continued support of key bilateral partners in reinforcing economic resilience and emphasized the importance of sustained international collaboration in this regard.

The Finance Minister expressed optimism about Pakistan’s external sector outlook and reiterated the Government’s focus on enhancing competitiveness, deepening investment inflows, and expanding trade opportunities. In this context, he also conveyed hope for continued progress under the GSP+ framework, terming it an important pillar of Pakistan-European Union economic relations.

The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to further strengthening Pakistan-EU economic relations and promoting increased trade, investment, and business collaboration.

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