ISLAMABAD: Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb on Friday assured a visiting delegation of leading United Arab Emirates (UAE) investors and businessmen of full government support, highlighting Pakistan’s recent economic reforms and emerging investment opportunities.

The delegation, led by Mohamed Baradei, Group CIO of Abu Dhabi-based EIX — a global investment and strategic advisory firm — was briefed on macroeconomic indicators, structural reforms, and sectoral prospects.

Mr Aurangzeb outlined Pakistan’s fiscal improvements, noting a primary surplus for the first time in years, inflation returning to single digits, a stable currency, improved foreign exchange reserves, and positive assessments from international rating agencies.

He said exports and remittances were on a healthy trajectory, while the stock market had seen robust activity with over 70,000 new investors joining recently, reflecting growing confidence.

The minister stressed that taxation reforms, tariff rationalisation, privatisation of state-owned enterprises, and other structural measures were aimed at transforming the economy.

Minister says Pakistan offers opportunities in mining, privatisation, and capital markets

He highlighted opportunities in mining, particularly the Reko Diq project. He also briefed the delegation on the upcoming Industrial Policy, designed to enhance the investment climate. He said the government was working to broaden the tax base beyond manufacturing and salaried sectors, bringing services, wholesale, retail, and agriculture into the net, while also lowering energy and financing costs for businesses.

On privatisation, he said major transactions, including PIA and other state assets, would proceed in the coming weeks. Pakistan also planned to raise funds from international capital markets, including its first Panda bond and future Euro and dollar-denominated issuances.

Emphasising the challenge of climate change, the minister said Pakistan required bankable adaptation projects to attract financing from multilateral institutions such as the IMF, World Bank, and ADB. He added that the country’s future lay in investment and export-led growth, with UAE investors playing a key role.

The visiting delegation expressed satisfaction with their interactions across government and business circles, admitting that Pakistan’s infrastructure, demographic profile, and strategic location offered long-term opportunities for investment.

The UAE investors also underlined the importance of expanding capital and human flows between the two countries to deepen economic ties.

Published in Dawn, August 30th, 2025