Pakistan has taken a major step in strengthening global investment ties, as Japan’s JBIC officially joined the Reko Diq lender group. The announcement came during Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb’s high-level meetings in Washington DC, where he engaged with US, Chinese, and Japanese officials. The move marks a strong boost in investor confidence and reflects growing interest in Pakistan’s mineral and infrastructure sectors.
In his meeting with JBIC Governor Nobumitsu Hayashi, Aurangzeb welcomed Japan’s formal commitment to the Reko Diq project. He highlighted that this partnership would encourage more Japanese companies to invest in Pakistan. The finance minister assured full security for foreign investors and called for exploring new areas of cooperation. This commitment also underscores Japan’s growing interest in Pakistan’s evolving economy.
Read more: Reko Diq mining project enters new phase with $715m funding boost
Aurangzeb also met with US Congressman French Hill to explore deeper Pakistan–US financial ties. Their discussion focused on key sectors like digital finance, technology, and minerals. He later addressed the Atlantic Council, where he outlined Pakistan’s reform journey and its recognition by the IMF and global rating agencies. He detailed upcoming changes in tax administration and institutional restructuring at the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR).
Further engagements included a meeting with S&P Global, where the minister welcomed Pakistan’s upgraded credit outlook. He highlighted improvements in fiscal discipline, external balances, and ongoing economic reforms. Aurangzeb also addressed a World Bank roundtable on digital tax transformation, sharing Pakistan’s progress in tax digitalisation and customs reforms. He reported a rise in tax-to-GDP ratio from 8.8% in 2024 to 10.24% in 2025.
Read more: Australia Joins Reko Diq Venture
Aurangzeb’s final sessions included talks with Bangladesh’s special envoy and a keynote at the JP Morgan Investment Seminar. He stressed the private sector’s central role in growth and the IT sector’s job-creation potential. The seminar gave investors an overview of Pakistan’s improving macroeconomic outlook, supported by sound fiscal policies and better external sector stability. The week’s meetings signal a renewed global interest in Pakistan’s reform and development agenda.