ISLAMABAD: Finance Minister Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb is set to leave for Bangkok, Thailand, to lead Pakistan’s delegation at the 2026 Annual Meetings of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund, scheduled from October 12 to 18.
More than 60 high-level engagements have been planned during the visit with international financial institutions, global investors, finance ministers, banks and credit rating agencies.
The visit comes at a time when Pakistan is seeking to move from economic stabilisation towards sustainable growth led by investment, exports and private enterprise. The finance minister is expected to present the government’s reform agenda, steps to strengthen public finances and foreign exchange reserves, and plans to attract foreign investment and generate employment.
Senator Aurangzeb will attend major meetings of the IMF and the World Bank Group and hold talks with their leadership. His schedule also includes engagements with the International Finance Corporation and the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency, where discussions are expected to cover Pakistan’s economic outlook, reform progress, private sector development and future cooperation.
He will also attend the IMF Managing Director’s meeting with finance ministers, central bank governors and heads of regional financial institutions from the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan region.
During the visit, the finance minister will meet representatives of several development and financial institutions, including the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, OPEC Fund for International Development, Saudi Fund for Development, International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation, Japan International Cooperation Agency, ECO Trade and Development Bank, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, and the International Organization for Migration.
These engagements will provide Pakistan an opportunity to discuss development financing, trade, investment, economic cooperation and support for its reform and growth plans.
On the bilateral side, Senator Aurangzeb is scheduled to meet his counterparts from Saudi Arabia, China, Türkiye, Iran, the United Kingdom and Thailand. The talks will focus on deepening economic relations, increasing investment, expanding trade and improving development cooperation.
He will also hold discussions with the United States Department of the Treasury on bilateral economic cooperation and brief it on Pakistan’s reform programme and efforts to attract investment.
A significant part of the visit will be centred on global investors and capital markets. The finance minister will meet representatives of leading financial institutions, including JP Morgan, Citi, Deutsche Bank, Standard Chartered Bank, MUFG, Mashreq Bank, Dubai Islamic Bank, Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, Ajman Bank, Barclays, Bank of America, Jefferies International, Alvarez and Marsal, and MSCI.
He will also participate in investment seminars, meetings with sovereign investors and roundtable discussions aimed at highlighting Pakistan’s economic outlook, investment opportunities and progress on structural reforms.
The government expects these meetings to improve international understanding of Pakistan’s economic position, strengthen investor confidence and encourage investment in sectors with growth potential. Discussions will also include Pakistan’s access to international financial markets and its efforts to build a more stable and competitive economy.
Senator Aurangzeb will separately engage with Alibaba International Digital Commerce to discuss Pakistan’s digital economy, e-commerce and investment opportunities in online business and trade.
The finance minister will also take part in several international economic and policy forums, including the G24 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting, the 17th V20 Ministerial Dialogue, the 16th Ministerial Meeting of the Coalition of Finance Ministers for Climate Action, and the Ministerial Dialogue on Accelerating Implementation for More and Better Jobs.
His programme also includes the first meeting of the Governing Council of the Borrowers’ Forum and the plenary session of the annual meetings.
Senator Aurangzeb is expected to contribute to discussions on reducing financial risks faced by countries borrowing through international markets. He will also participate in a World Bank Group session on turning demographic changes into improvements in education, skills, job creation and human capital.
Pakistan’s efforts to maintain access to international capital markets will be another key area of focus. The finance minister will meet all three major international sovereign credit rating agencies: Fitch Ratings, Moody’s and S&P Global.
These meetings will allow Pakistan to explain its economic performance, reform measures and plans for maintaining financial stability. The talks will also cover the country’s economic direction and its capacity to attract long-term investment.
The finance minister will also meet representatives of major international media organisations, including Reuters, Bloomberg, Nikkei Asia, Channel News Asia, The Wall Street Journal and AFP.
In addition, he will participate in policy discussions with the Atlantic Council and Eurasia Group. These engagements will focus on Pakistan’s economic outlook, progress towards macroeconomic stability, remaining reform priorities and plans to attract international investment.
Across the engagements, Senator Aurangzeb is expected to underline the government’s position that gains in economic stability should now translate into higher investment, stronger exports, improved productivity and more employment opportunities.
The government also aims to promote private sector-led growth and expand financial inclusion so that a broader segment of the population can benefit from economic progress.
