Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb has expressed optimism about a rise in government-to-government (G2G) investments from Saudi Arabia to Pakistan in the coming months. In an interview with Forbes, Aurangzeb discussed Pakistan’s economic reforms, investment opportunities, and future growth prospects.
“We are already seeing institutional investments returning to the country. Additionally, we’ve started receiving foreign direct investment (FDI), including business-to-business (B2B) transactions from Saudi Arabia, and expect more G2G investments as the year progresses,” Aurangzeb shared.
The finance minister noted that Pakistan’s macroeconomic indicators have improved significantly over the past 12 to 14 months. He pointed to sustained growth in exports and improvements in inflation, policy rates, interest rates, currency stability, and foreign exchange reserves. These developments, he emphasized, are the result of ongoing structural reforms aimed at achieving macroeconomic stability.
“We are focusing on structural reforms to ensure long-term stability in the economy before we can shift our focus to sustainable growth,” he added.
Aurangzeb outlined the government’s strategy to attract both local and international investment in key sectors, including mining, agriculture, and information technology. He highlighted Pakistan’s vast copper reserves, which he believes could be a major driver of economic growth.
Additionally, the finance minister noted that Pakistan is home to the third-largest freelancing community in the world, presenting significant opportunities for further development in the IT sector.
On the issue of climate change, Aurangzeb acknowledged that Pakistan is one of the most climate-vulnerable countries globally. He emphasized the need to develop investable and bankable projects to attract both local and foreign investment in climate financing.
In terms of regional connectivity, the finance minister underscored the growing importance of trade corridors linking the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and Central Asian Republics (CARs). He pointed out that Pakistan has already been involved in China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and believes that the GCC and CARs will play an increasingly vital role in regional trade moving forward.
