ISLAMABAD: Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb and Adviser to Prime Minister on Investment Muhammad Ali arrived in London on Tuesday for talks with global financial leaders as Pakistan looks to attract investors to boost the economy.

The two-day visit will include engagements with top global investors and financial institutions to accelerate foreign direct investment, according to the Privatisation Commission.

The two officials will meet executives from top investment advisory firms, including TTB Partners, STJ Partners; Deutsche Bank, Berenberg Bank; and asset manager Amundi Fund Group.

The finance minister and the privatisation adviser will share Pakistan’s privatisation roadmap and its “potential as a hub for strategic, long-term investment”.

Scheduled to meet top officials of govt, banks, investment firms

They will also participate in the ‘Pakistan Access Day’ — an investment round-table conference hosted by renowned investment banking firm, Jefferies on May 8.

The exclusive event will offer a “powerful platform to showcase Pakistan’s robust investment landscape, ongoing economic reforms, and the government’s unwavering commitment to transparency and investor confidence”, the commission said in a statement.

Mr Ali said the visit would “build trust, forge partnerships, and demonstrate that Pakistan is open for business with a clear agenda for growth, stability, and opportunity.”

Aurangzeb’s meetings

Finance Minister Aurangzeb will also attend a round-table discussion with UK-based technology investors, focusing on opportunities in the fields of artificial intelligence, mining and healthcare.

The finance ministry said Mr Aurangzeb’s visit was aimed at strengthening economic ties, attracting foreign investment, engaging with British government officials, global financial institutions and business leaders in the UK.

The finance minister will meet senior officials of the Treasury department, including Financial Secretary to the Treasury Lord Livermore.

He will also visit the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office for a meeting with Leo Docherty, the UK’s parliamentary under-secretary of state for the Middle East, Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Mr Aurangzeb is also scheduled to meet Richard Hughes, chair of the UK’s Office for Budget Responsibility and visit the Bank of England headquarters for talks with Governor Andrew Bailey and senior officials. He will also meet senior executives of Deutsche Bank, Standard Chartered Bank and British corporate leaders, including Simon Baugh, the chief executive of the UK Government Communication Service; Marcus Hall, the head of Cargill Global Trading UK; and representatives from British American Tobacco.

Published in Dawn, May 7th, 2025