ISLAMABAD/WASHINGTON — Pakistan’s Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb arrived in Washington on Sunday to attend the annual plenary meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank (WB), where Islamabad hopes to secure the next tranche of its loan programme and reaffirm its commitment to economic reform.
The weeklong meetings, running from October 13 to 18, bring together finance ministers, central bank governors, and global development leaders. For Pakistan, the gathering provides a key opportunity to advance discussions on the $8.4 billion IMF programme, attract new investment, and strengthen ties with multilateral partners.
Aurangzeb’s trip follows the recent conclusion of IMF staff consultations with Pakistani authorities on the ongoing programme reviews. The talks ended without a staff-level agreement (SLA), though the finance minister expressed optimism that the deal could be finalised during his Washington visit.
According to officials familiar with the visit, Pakistan’s delegation will focus on meeting remaining programme benchmarks, securing the third IMF tranche, and presenting updated estimates of flood-related economic losses, with provincial input aligned to federal fiscal targets.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had earlier urged the IMF to consider the impact of last year’s devastating floods during its review process.
During his stay, Aurangzeb is scheduled to participate in more than 65 official engagements, including meetings with senior representatives of the IMF, World Bank, International Finance Corporation (IFC), and Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA). He will also hold bilateral talks with finance ministers from China, the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, and Azerbaijan, and meet with World Bank President Ajay Banga and IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva on the sidelines of G24 and MENAP (Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan, and Pakistan) sessions.
In addition to engagements with U.S. administration officials, lawmakers, and members of the U.S. State and Treasury Departments, the minister will attend events hosted by the World Economic Forum and meet global credit rating agencies, investment banks, and members of the U.S.-Pakistan Business Council to discuss opportunities in energy, infrastructure, and digital finance.
Discussions with the World Bank will cover projects on climate resilience, infrastructure development, and the digital transformation of Pakistan’s Federal Board of Revenue (FBR)—a key component of the government’s fiscal modernisation drive. Aurangzeb is also expected to deliver a keynote address at a regional roundtable on tax system digitalisation.
Pakistan’s participation in these high-level meetings comes as the country seeks to stabilise its fragile economy, manage mounting debt obligations, and rebuild credibility with investors and lenders. The outcome of the Washington talks—particularly progress toward the SLA—will be vital for maintaining macroeconomic stability and shaping the country’s growth trajectory in the year ahead.
