By S.M. Inam
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and the United Kingdom sought to strengthen economic cooperation and institutional reforms during a high-level meeting in Islamabad this week, underscoring shared concerns over fiscal stability and development priorities.
Federal Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb met with British Minister for Development, Baroness Chapman, in a session attended by British High Commissioner Jane Marriott and senior UK officials, where both sides explored avenues to bolster economic resilience and growth.
During the discussions, Pakistan expressed gratitude for Britain’s support in the successful implementation of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) program, which officials said had played a key role in stabilizing the country’s finances. Talks focused on improving the energy sector, managing national debt, reforming institutions, restructuring pensions, and maintaining fiscal discipline.
Aurangzeb highlighted that efforts to expand the tax base and improve recovery through technological measures were beginning to yield results, signaling gradual progress in strengthening the country’s financial systems.
Both governments also emphasized the importance of enhanced federal–provincial coordination in critical areas such as health, education, and climate resilience. The Finance Minister underlined the need to align development spending with national priorities, ensuring that public resources effectively addressed pressing social and economic challenges.
The United Kingdom pledged continued support for governance reforms, digitalization initiatives, and measures to improve the investment climate. Discussions also included women’s economic participation and population policy options, with both sides agreeing to deepen high-level engagements and foster private-sector collaboration.
