Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb has departed for Bangkok, Thailand, to lead Pakistan’s delegation to the annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank Group, scheduled to take place from October 12 to 18, 2026. According to a statement issued by the Finance Ministry, the visit will include participation in key multilateral events and an extensive programme of more than 60 high-level engagements with international financial institutions, finance ministers, policymakers, development partners, global investors, banks, credit rating agencies, think tanks and international media organisations. The meetings are expected to provide an opportunity for Pakistan to present its economic outlook, discuss ongoing reforms and strengthen engagement with international financial and development partners.
Bangkok is preparing to host more than 15,000 participants from 191 countries for the annual IMF and World Bank gatherings. The participants are expected to include central bank governors, economic policymakers and business leaders who will discuss issues affecting the global economy. During the meetings, Aurangzeb will represent Pakistan at various official events and hold discussions with the leadership of the IMF and World Bank Group, including the International Finance Corporation and the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency. The discussions will focus on Pakistan’s macroeconomic outlook, progress on structural reforms, private sector development and areas for future cooperation with international institutions.
The Finance Ministry said Pakistan’s economic agenda is focused on moving from macroeconomic stabilisation towards sustainable growth driven by investment and exports. The government is also pursuing structural reforms while strengthening engagement with international capital markets and development partners. In this context, Aurangzeb’s meetings are expected to highlight Pakistan’s efforts to improve economic stability, strengthen fiscal and external buffers, and expand opportunities for private sector investment. He will also attend the IMF managing director’s meeting with finance ministers, central bank governors and heads of regional financial institutions from the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan region, providing another platform for discussions on regional economic developments and policy priorities.
Aurangzeb will engage with the leadership of several multilateral and development finance institutions during the visit. These include the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, the OPEC Fund for International Development, the Saudi Fund for Development, the International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation, the Japan International Cooperation Agency and the ECO Trade and Development Bank. His programme will also include engagements with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific and the International Organisation for Migration. According to the ministry, these meetings will cover opportunities to strengthen development cooperation and explore areas of mutual interest involving investment, trade and economic development.
Bilateral discussions will form another major part of the finance minister’s schedule, with high-level meetings planned with counterparts from Saudi Arabia, China, Turkiye, Iran, the United Kingdom and host country Thailand. The discussions are aimed at strengthening economic, investment, trade and development cooperation between Pakistan and these countries. Aurangzeb will also engage with the United States Department of the Treasury to discuss bilateral economic cooperation, Pakistan’s reform programme and its investment agenda. The ministry said these engagements would support Pakistan’s international economic outreach and provide opportunities to discuss areas where stronger partnerships could contribute to trade expansion, investment and development.
The finance minister will also participate in investment seminars, sovereign investor forums and roundtable discussions involving leading international financial institutions. These engagements are intended to present Pakistan’s macroeconomic position, structural reform priorities, international market access and investment potential to global investors. As part of discussions on the country’s digital economy, e-commerce and investment opportunities, Aurangzeb will meet representatives of Alibaba International Digital Commerce. The meeting comes within the broader programme of economic engagement aimed at exploring opportunities connected to digital commerce and Pakistan’s expanding participation in international markets.
As part of Pakistan’s international market outreach, Aurangzeb will hold engagements with the three major global sovereign credit rating agencies: Fitch Ratings, Moody’s and S&P Global. He will present Pakistan’s economic outlook, reform progress and policy direction to these agencies and international investors. The finance minister is also scheduled to engage with leading international media organisations and participate in multilateral forums and high-level policy discussions. According to the Finance Ministry, the visit will be used to communicate Pakistan’s progress in restoring macroeconomic stability, strengthening fiscal and external buffers, advancing structural reforms and returning to international capital markets. The government’s priorities for investment, export growth, private sector-led economic activity, job creation and greater financial inclusion will also be highlighted during the engagements.
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