Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue, Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb, met with the Sharjah Islamic Bank delegation on the sidelines of the World Bank Group–IMF Annual Meetings 2026 in Bangkok, Thailand, to discuss Pakistan’s economic progress and financing partnership.
The Finance Minister highlighted improved fiscal and external indicators, stronger foreign exchange reserves, credit rating upgrades and progress under the IMF programme. Discussions covered prospective Sukuk, rupee-denominated dollar-settled instruments, further Panda bond issuance and possible Eurobond tokenization.
He emphasized replacing costly short-term debt, extending maturities and reducing repayment concentrations without increasing overall external debt. Both sides discussed Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA)-backed financing and rising global funding costs, while the delegation reaffirmed its support and readiness to participate in a Sukuk issuance.
The Finance Minister outlined investment opportunities in refinery upgrades, power distribution privatization and airport outsourcing. They also discussed developing capital market benchmarks through financial institution issuances and expanding lending to businesses, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and the agriculture sector.
