Islamabad, December 12, 2025 — Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb on Friday commended Standard Chartered Bank for its sustained support to Pakistan’s economic stabilization and reform agenda, particularly during the negotiation and implementation of the Extended Fund Facility (EFF).
A high-level delegation of Standard Chartered Bank Pakistan, led by Christopher Parsons, Chairman of the Board and Senior Executive Officer for DIFC & ADGM, called on the finance minister in Islamabad. The delegation included senior board members and senior management officials. This visit marked the first time in several years that the Board convened in Pakistan’s capital, according to an official press statement.
During the meeting, the delegation shared encouraging feedback from international financial institutions and market participants regarding Pakistan’s improving economic outlook. They highlighted the positive sentiment observed in global financial circles about the country’s reform trajectory.
Minister Aurangzeb expressed his appreciation for Standard Chartered’s continued partnership, acknowledging the bank’s constructive role in boosting market confidence and supporting Pakistan’s external financing needs. He briefed the delegation on the government’s key economic priorities, emphasizing the shift from macroeconomic stabilization to investment-led and export-oriented growth.
The discussion focused on expanding cooperation in areas including privatization, foreign direct investment (FDI), and access to international capital markets. Aurangzeb underscored the government’s renewed push for privatization and stressed the importance of credible advisory support to accelerate transactions and attract reputable global investors.
He also outlined ongoing efforts to diversify financing channels through new capital market instruments, including progress on Panda bond issuance and the refresh of Pakistan’s Global Medium Term Note (GMTN) program.
The Standard Chartered delegation reaffirmed Pakistan’s status as a priority market for the bank and expressed readiness to assist the government through advisory services, syndication arrangements, and by connecting Pakistan with international investor networks, particularly in the GCC and global markets. They also showed interest in facilitating investment inflows for key sectors and major development projects.
Aurangzeb informed the delegation that the government is addressing major obstacles to investment—such as taxation and energy sector challenges—while implementing institutional reforms aimed at strengthening policy-making and economic governance.
Both sides agreed to maintain close coordination to sustain reform momentum, build investor confidence, and support Pakistan’s long-term economic growth.