Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb has said sustainable growth, macroeconomic stability and private sector-led development remain central to Pakistan\u2019s economic progress.<\/p>\n
Addressing a gong ceremony organised by Arif Habib Corporation at the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) in Karachi to mark the listing of Naya Nazimabad Apartments REIT, the finance minister reaffirmed the government\u2019s commitment to deepening capital markets and strengthening investor confidence.<\/p>\n
Senator Aurangzeb pointed to the strong performance of the PSX, saying the KSE-100 Index had risen from around 67,000 points in March 2024 to around 170,000 points. He said investor participation had also expanded significantly, with 25,281 new investors added at the PSX in September 2026, the highest ever in a single month.<\/p>\n
He said the total investor base had reached 656,218, more than double the 321,144 investors recorded in March 2024. The minister added that 11 companies came to the market during FY26, the highest number in more than two decades, while another five IPOs had already been completed in the first quarter of FY27, showing continued momentum in capital raising and market development.<\/p>\n
However, he stressed that the market was not only about the index, as the wider objective was capital formation. Market confidence, he said, should turn into capital for businesses, infrastructure, housing, innovation and job creation.<\/p>\n
Referring to the Prime Minister\u2019s Apna Ghar Programme, Senator Aurangzeb said around Rs60 billion had been financed, while banks had approved an additional financing pipeline of about Rs340 billion awaiting disbursement. He said the banking sector had taken the lead, but the supply side must now accelerate housing development.<\/p>\n
He underlined the importance of the private sector, including ABAD, in supporting the programme and described REITs as an important instrument for mobilising investment into housing and real estate.<\/p>\n
The finance minister said the participation of major Pakistani business groups in the consortium for the PIA transaction, including Mr Arif Habib and Mr Tabba, represented close to US$1.2 billion in collective investment. He said this showed the growing capacity of local businesses to work together, create scale and pursue larger investment opportunities.<\/p>\n
Senator Aurangzeb said international investor interest was also improving. He cited Turkish interest in the privatisation of electricity distribution companies and rising interest from US investors and companies in minerals and mining, agriculture, IT, oil and gas, and refinery upgrades.<\/p>\n
He said foreign investment required time to materialise and needed a supportive ecosystem based on suitable policies and effective facilitation.<\/p>\n
The minister said Pakistan\u2019s economy had moved from contraction and stabilisation towards growth, with growth currently around 3.7 percent and expected to move towards 4 percent this year. He called for breaking away from the boom-and-bust cycle and pursuing sustainable and responsible growth driven by productivity, investment, exports and employment.<\/p>\n
He said Pakistan must avoid relying on temporary liquidity and consumption-led expansion, and instead bring permanence to macroeconomic stability while building stronger fiscal and external resilience to withstand future shocks.<\/p>\n
Highlighting the government\u2019s structural reform agenda, Senator Aurangzeb said reforms had moved beyond the design stage and were now in execution across taxation, energy, state-owned enterprises, privatisation and public finance.<\/p>\n
He said the number of tax filers had crossed 5.7 million, compared with around 3.9 million last year and about 1.8 to 1.9 million in 2022. He said this reflected greater use of data, simpler processes and stronger enforcement.<\/p>\n
The finance minister said the government\u2019s role was to provide the required ecosystem for the private sector. This included engagement with the US EXIM Bank, other export credit agencies and international partners, as well as tariff-related discussions and negotiations.<\/p>\n
He stressed that the private sector must lead investment, business expansion and economic growth.<\/p>\n
Senator Aurangzeb also called for expanding access to finance for SMEs, agriculture, housing and other underserved segments. He reiterated the government\u2019s objective of shifting Pakistan\u2019s bilateral economic relationships from aid towards trade and investment.<\/p>\n
He also highlighted the importance of positioning Pakistan for the new economy by capturing emerging opportunities in digitalisation, blockchain, Web 3.0 and other emerging technologies.<\/p>\n
Speaking about Naya Nazimabad Apartments REIT, the finance minister said the offering received around eight times subscription during book-building and 4.3 times subscription in the general public offering. He said this reflected strong investor interest in well-structured and transparent investment opportunities.<\/p>\n
Senator Aurangzeb reaffirmed the government\u2019s resolve to deepen capital markets, build investor confidence and create an enabling environment for private sector-led development. He said Pakistan must move from stability to investment, from investment to growth, and from growth to jobs and wider economic opportunity.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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