DAVOS: Pakistan’s Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb said the country is “open for business” as he held a series of high-level political and corporate engagements on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting, positioning Islamabad as a destination for investment driven by macroeconomic stability and technology-led growth.
In an exclusive interview with Pakistan TV Digital, Aurangzeb outlined Pakistan’s outreach strategy at the five-day WEF meeting in Davos, where nearly 3,000 global leaders from politics, business, finance and civil society are gathering to discuss pressing global challenges.
Aurangzeb said his engagements included meetings with fellow finance ministers from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Egypt, alongside interactions with existing and prospective investors.
“It’s a great opportunity to meet your counterparts and have conversations about their economies, our economy, and mutual areas of cooperation, investment and trade,” he said.
The finance minister noted that Davos offers a rare platform where political leadership and global business converge, enabling Pakistan to simultaneously engage governments and multinational corporations.
He said discussions were underway with major existing investors in Pakistan, including global companies active in aviation, food and beverages, to understand how they plan to expand their footprint in the country.
Highlighting the presence of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at the forum, Aurangzeb said Pakistan’s leadership was using the platform to present a renewed national narrative anchored in economic stabilization achieved over recent years.
“This is to tell the Pakistan story. The macroeconomic stabilization we have achieved and, more importantly, how we want to move forward toward sustainable growth,” he said.
Aurangzeb emphasized that Pakistan is now seeking market-efficiency-driven foreign investment that can generate exportable surpluses and long-term value.
“This is a very big opportunity for us to showcase Pakistan, the opportunity in Pakistan, and the message that Pakistan is open for business,” he added.
Turning to the digital economy, the finance minister said Pakistan is positioning itself to capitalize on emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, blockchain and Web3. Key themes at this year’s WEF meeting.
He said regulatory progress through the Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority and engagement with global technology leaders signal Pakistan’s intent to compete in the knowledge economy.
Aurangzeb underlined Pakistan’s strength as one of the world’s top freelance markets, saying targeted investment in blockchain and AI centers of excellence could significantly raise earnings and productivity.
He said such initiatives would not only benefit individual professionals but also strengthen the national economy through higher-value exports of digital services.
Summing up Pakistan’s pitch to the international community, Aurangzeb pointed to opportunities across traditional sectors such as agriculture, minerals and mining, alongside fast-growing areas like information technology and startups.
The finance minister said Pakistan aims to leapfrog in the knowledge economy by attracting expertise, financing and technology transfer through global partnerships.
The World Economic Forum annual meeting, held every January in the Alpine town of Davos since 1971, brings together heads of state, ministers, corporate leaders and policymakers. This year’s meeting, which began on January 19 and concludes on January 23, comes amid global economic uncertainty and heightened focus on technological transformation and international cooperation.
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