The Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue, Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb, on Tuesday reaffirmed the government’s openness to collaborating with global financial institutions to strengthen investor outreach and explore financing options, including private placements and engagement with long-term investors, where appropriate.
The remarks were made during a meeting between the Finance Ministry team and a delegation from Citibank, led by Habib Yousuf, Citi Country Officer, along with Ali Sana Rizvi, Corporate Banking Head, and Usama Paracha, Vice President, Corporate Banking. The meeting was held at the Finance Division and focused on Pakistan’s external financing strategy and evolving engagement with international capital markets.
During the discussion, both sides reviewed recent developments in Pakistan’s international bond performance and exchanged views on the government’s approach to external borrowing. Particular emphasis was placed on pricing considerations, market timing, and ensuring that any future sovereign transactions remain aligned with Pakistan’s broader objectives of debt sustainability and cost efficiency. The Finance Ministry underscored that careful calibration of market engagement remains critical in the current global financial environment.
The Finance Ministry team shared a high-level assessment of prevailing international market conditions and outlined Pakistan’s external financing outlook. The Citibank delegation was also briefed on the government’s ongoing work related to sovereign funding programmes, including preparatory efforts on medium-term note structures. Officials noted that while groundwork and internal approvals have been undertaken, the immediate focus remains on concluding priority transactions already in progress.
It was conveyed during the meeting that market engagement would be considered at an appropriate time, subject to favourable conditions and pricing dynamics. The discussion also covered investor engagement strategies, with the Finance Ministry highlighting the importance of attracting active, long-term institutional investors rather than relying solely on passive capital flows. Officials pointed to recent positive portfolio inflows as an encouraging sign, while stressing the need for sustained and targeted outreach.
The Finance Ministry also outlined areas where Citibank’s global capabilities could potentially be leveraged more effectively, particularly in structured financing programmes, documentation frameworks, and market infrastructure development. In addition, the discussion touched on possible trade-related and hedging structures, with the ministry noting that such options would be evaluated once baseline documentation and pricing considerations are firmly in place.
Finance Minister Aurangzeb emphasized the value of sustained on-ground engagement and senior-level involvement by international financial institutions to build confidence and momentum. He noted that Pakistan has historically been an important market for global banks and stressed the need to build upon this legacy through consistent engagement, institutional commitment, and alignment with the country’s reform agenda and financing priorities.
The meeting concluded on a positive note, with both sides agreeing to maintain continued dialogue and explore avenues for closer cooperation. The Finance Ministry welcomed Citibank’s interest in engaging in sovereign solutions and reiterated its openness to constructive partnerships that support Pakistan’s financing strategy and broader economic objectives.
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