WASHINGTON – In a clear acknowledgment of Pakistan’s core challenges, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb has declared that controlling terrorism and establishing internal peace are “indispensable” for achieving financial stability.
Speaking to the media in Washington at the conclusion of his week-long visit for the World Bank and IMF annual meetings, the finance minister conceded that sustainable financial stability and crucial investor confidence are entirely dependent on internal peace and political harmony.
According to officials accompanying the minister, this link between security and the economy was a recurring and central theme throughout the 65 meetings held during the visit. “Everyone, from credit rating agencies to commercial banks, wanted to understand if Pakistan’s security environment is now aligned with its economic recovery plans,” one official noted.
The finance minister’s admission comes at a pivotal moment, as Pakistan’s strategic importance is being “re-recognized” in global capitals, particularly as Islamabad regains Washington’s attention under the second administration of US President Donald Trump.
Reflecting this renewed engagement, Aurangzeb held a special meeting earlier in the week with US Congressman Franc Hill, the chairman of the powerful House Financial Services Committee. It marked the first time a Pakistani finance minister has met with the head of this key parliamentary panel, focusing on strengthening economic ties between the two nations.
