Asian Development Bank reaffirms support for Pakistan’s structural reforms, SME financing, private investment and sustainable economic growth.
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has welcomed Pakistan’s progress in macroeconomic stabilisation, fiscal management and overall economic stability, while reaffirming its willingness to strengthen cooperation with the government on key structural reforms and development priorities.
ADB Vice President for South, Central and West Asia Yingming Yang met Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb and his team to review bilateral cooperation, investment opportunities, SME value-chain financing and other areas of economic development.
Yang congratulated the government on the improvements achieved in Pakistan’s economic position, particularly in fiscal management and the external account. He also appreciated developments in the country’s sovereign credit ratings, viewing them as a reflection of continued reform efforts and improving economic fundamentals.
The ADB vice president stressed the importance of maintaining fiscal discipline while creating conditions for sustainable and inclusive economic growth. He said the Bank’s strategic priorities were closely aligned with Pakistan’s ongoing reform agenda.
Aurangzeb appreciated ADB’s longstanding partnership and continued assistance to Pakistan. He said the government was focused on institutionalising reforms in domestic resource mobilisation, public finance, energy, insurance, pensions and other important sectors.
The finance minister said Pakistan was gradually moving beyond macroeconomic stabilisation towards sustainable growth, with greater attention being given to investment, exports, employment generation and private-sector participation.
He also welcomed ADB’s increasing involvement beyond sovereign financing, particularly through private-sector operations and public-private partnerships. Expanding access to finance for small and medium enterprises was identified as an important part of Pakistan’s strategy to boost employment, investment and exports.
The meeting also highlighted the need to connect Pakistani SMEs with global value chains and improve their competitiveness. Discussions covered the insurance transformation programme, public-private partnership projects, project readiness and implementation capacity.
Aurangzeb called for greater mobilisation of domestic and private capital through innovative financing mechanisms, co-financing arrangements and stronger participation by international development institutions.
Potential cooperation in infrastructure, transport, clean energy, water resource management and climate resilience was also discussed.
Both sides reviewed ongoing and upcoming policy-based operations, pension reforms and institutional strengthening.
Aurangzeb appreciated ADB’s technical assistance and stressed that future cooperation should support private-sector-led growth, export competitiveness, infrastructure development, climate resilience, social protection and wider economic transformation.