September 11, 2002	Wednesday	Rajab 3, 1423

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NEW YORK, Sept 10: Top sovereign rating agencies on Monday reaffirmed positive outlook for Pakistan’s economy while expressing concern over the transition period and continuity of reform process.

Following a meeting with Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz, the Moody’s rating agency reaffirmed its “B-3” rating and the Standard and Poor, “B”.

Aziz told Dawn that the rating agencies were “appreciative of Pakistan’s reform agenda and the improvement in the macro-economic situation which was reflected in the ratings.”

However, the rating agencies expressed concern over the smooth transition of government in Pakistan and for the continuity of the reforms process.

The finance minister also met the editorial board of the Business Week magazine on Monday, and late Tuesday he is expected to meet the editors of Fortune Magazine. He is also expected to meet several Wall Street firms and investment houses.

Aziz said Pakistan’s economic agenda will figure prominently in talks with US President George Bush and Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, at the sidelines of the UN General Assembly meeting.