LONDON: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held a series of meetings with senior executives from some of the world’s leading financial institutions on Tuesday, inviting them to increase investment and expand their operations in Pakistan as his government seeks to attract greater international capital.
During his engagements in London, the prime minister met representatives of Barclays, JP Morgan, Citi, BlackRock and Rothschild & Co, with discussions focusing on investment opportunities, financial services and Pakistan’s economic reform programme.
Earlier in the day, Shehbaz became the first Pakistani prime minister to open trading at the London Stock Exchange, according to the Prime Minister’s Office.
The PMO described the meetings as reflecting growing interest among international financial institutions in Pakistan’s economic reforms and investment environment.
JP Morgan Invited to Expand Presence in Pakistan
During a meeting with a senior JP Morgan delegation led by Matthieu Wiltz, the firm’s co-CEO for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, PM Shehbaz encouraged the financial institution to broaden its presence in Pakistan.
The discussions focused on opportunities for deeper cooperation in capital markets, trade finance and investment banking.
According to the PMO, JP Morgan representatives expressed continued interest in opportunities related to sovereign debt capital markets and corporate banking in Pakistan.
Barclays Encouraged to Explore Financial Sector Opportunities
The prime minister also met Mohammad Kamal Syed, head of Private Bank and Wealth Management UK at Barclays.
Shehbaz briefed him on measures undertaken by the government to achieve macroeconomic stabilisation and invited Barclays to explore opportunities available within Pakistan’s financial sector.
According to the PMO, the prime minister welcomed the bank’s interest in the Pakistani market.
Talks Held With Rothschild & Co
Shehbaz also held discussions with senior representatives of Rothschild & Co, including Lord Mark Sedwill, chair of Geostrategic Advisory, and Majid Ishaq, head of UK Investment Banking.
The meetings formed part of the prime minister’s broader engagement with international financial institutions during his London visit, with Islamabad seeking to present Pakistan as a destination for foreign investment and expanded financial-sector participation.
The engagements with major global firms come as the government seeks to translate its economic reform and stabilisation measures into increased international investment and deeper links with global capital markets.
