Islamabad: Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb has announced that Pakistan is moving away from aid dependency, turning its focus towards trade and investment. This strategic shift aims to deepen commercial relationships with bilateral partners, attract private capital, and enhance Pakistan's integration with both regional and global markets.
According to Radio Pakistan, Aurangzeb made these remarks while addressing the 9th Edition of the Leaders in Islamabad Business Summit 2026, themed 'The Next Move,' through a video link. The Finance Minister highlighted Pakistan's recent re-entry into international capital markets with the issuance of three billion dollars in international bonds after a four-year hiatus. He mentioned that investor orders were nearly double the amount sought, with strong participation particularly noted from Asian investors. Aurangzeb emphasized the significance of both the quality and diversity of the investor base, with increasing Asian participation reflecting growing international investor confidence in Pakistan.
Aurangzeb also reported that Pakistan's GDP grew by approximately 3.7 percent in the last fiscal year, with economic activity remaining positive in the current fiscal year. The State Bank of Pakistan has projected GDP growth in the range of 3.5 to 4.5 percent for the current fiscal year.
Looking towards the future, Aurangzeb stressed the importance of positioning Pakistan for the New Economy, identifying emerging opportunities in digitalization, blockchain, and Web 3.0. He highlighted the need for Pakistan to leverage its young, tech-savvy talent pool alongside fostering an enabling policy and investment environment to engage in higher-value segments of the global economy.
The Finance Minister concluded by underscoring the necessity of achieving lasting macroeconomic stability as central to Pakistan's economic prospects. He noted that strong fiscal and external buffers are crucial to managing both domestic and external challenges. The government, he assured, is committed to safeguarding the gains made so far while continuing the structural reforms needed to enhance productivity, competitiveness, and growth driven by the private sector.
