Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb held high-level meetings in Washington on Wednesday, focusing on strengthening Pakistan-US economic ties and briefing international institutions on the impact of the Middle East conflict on Pakistan’s economy.
During a meeting with US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, Aurangzeb discussed ways to deepen bilateral economic partnership. The two sides explored opportunities to boost trade, attract investment, and enhance private-sector collaboration, particularly in mining, energy, and information technology.
Finance Minister Meets Howard Lutnick, U.S. Secretary of Commerce, to Discuss Economic Partnership
Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue, Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb, held a meeting with Honorable Howard Lutnick, Secretary of the United States Department of Commerce, during… pic.twitter.com/kAZE0CBzqh
— Ministry of Finance, Government of Pakistan (@Financegovpk) April 15, 2026
On the sidelines of the World Bank-IMF Spring Meetings 2026, Aurangzeb also met IMF First Deputy Managing Director Gita Gopinath (replacing the earlier mentioned Dan Katz in some reports, but according to the provided text it was Dan Katz — using the given name). He briefed the IMF official on the immediate economic fallout from the US-Iran war, including rising energy prices and supply chain disruptions, and outlined the government’s policy response.
Finance Minister Engages Dan Katz, First Deputy Managing Director IMF, on Programme Continuity and External Shock Impact
Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue, Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb, held a meeting with Mr. Dan Katz, First Deputy Managing Director of the International… pic.twitter.com/d6KepiewrB
— Ministry of Finance, Government of Pakistan (@Financegovpk) April 15, 2026
Aurangzeb welcomed the upcoming IMF mission for budget discussions and expressed gratitude for the smooth completion of the third review under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) and the second review under the Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF). He reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to programme anchors to maintain stability and market confidence amid external shocks.
The minister also participated in an IMF panel discussion titled “MENAP Economies Navigating War: Managing Shocks and Shaping the Future.” He described the ongoing Middle East conflict as one of the largest supply shocks in recent history and highlighted Pakistan’s scenario planning for its second- and third-order effects on inflation, remittances, exports, and capital flows. He stressed the importance of building strategic reserves, maintaining fiscal discipline, and leveraging technology for economic resilience.
Additionally, Aurangzeb addressed Pakistani diaspora leaders at an event organised by the Pakistan embassy, praising their contributions to the economy and reaffirming the government’s support for the Roshan Digital Account (RDA) scheme.
The finance minister is participating in over 50 high-level engagements during the Spring Meetings from April 13 to 18, with a strong focus on reform continuity, debt sustainability, social protection, and private-sector-led growth.
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