Washington d.c.: Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb met with Azerbaijan’s First Deputy Finance Minister Anar Karimov in Washington D.C and reaffirmed strong economic and strategic ties between the two countries. He highlighted Pakistan-Azerbaijan Preferential Trade Agreement and Transit Trade Agreement as key platforms to diversify bilateral trade beyond oil and rice into textiles, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, machinery, and agricultural products.

According to Radio Pakistan, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb also met with members of the Pakistan Bank Fund Staff Association (PBFSA). He briefed them on recent fiscal, monetary, and external sector progress and referenced the country’s upgraded sovereign credit ratings. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to fiscal responsibility, energy reforms, privatization, social protection, and inclusive green growth while responding to participant queries.

The Finance Minister also met with Executive Vice President of MIGA Hiroshi Matano, reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to safeguarding both investor confidence and national interests. He welcomed MIGA’s proposal for a short-term trade finance facility to ensure access to critical imports such as food, fertilizer, energy, and essential machinery, and emphasized the importance of its timely implementation.

Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb held a productive meeting with the senior management of Standard Chartered Bank and highlighted the external validation of the country’s ongoing economic reforms by international rating agencies. He briefed the team on Pakistan’s recent Panda Bond issuance and plans to tap international capital markets through Eurobonds and International Sukuk.