PM, finance minister highlight Pakistan’s reform push at WEF Davos

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday attended the 56th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, using the platform to outline Pakistan’s economic direction, reform priorities, and plans to expand cooperation with global partners, the Associated Press of Pakistan reported.

The prime minister attended the Pakistan Breakfast event, where he addressed international business leaders and policymakers, presenting Pakistan’s economic outlook and reform agenda while underscoring opportunities for trade, investment, and international collaboration.

He also joined an informal gathering of world leaders held under the themes “The Importance of Dialogue in a Divided Global Landscape” and “Restoring a Spirit of Dialogue in a Divided World.”

The discussions centered on easing global polarization, encouraging cooperation, and strengthening dialogue to address common international challenges.

On the sidelines of the WEF, Sharif met Prime Minister of Palestine Mohammad Mustafa. 

Mustafa expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the prime minister for Pakistan’s consistent, principled, and unwavering support for the Palestinian people.

The Palestinian prime minister also thanked Pakistan for supporting Palestine’s position at international forums and acknowledged Pakistan’s role in advancing the Palestinian cause.

Shrif is scheduled to hold a series of bilateral and informal meetings with global leaders to discuss economic cooperation, investment prospects, and regional and international issues, APP added.

The prime minister is also expected to meet International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva as part of Pakistan’s ongoing engagement with international financial institutions.

DPM inaugurates Pakistan pavilion

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar reaffirmed the government’s commitment to facilitating and promoting entrepreneurs and start-ups, particularly youth-led ventures, to help unlock Pakistan’s full economic potential.

Dar inaugurated the Pathfinder Group’s Pakistan Pavilion on the sidelines of the WEF, highlighting Pakistan’s growing innovation ecosystem and emerging business opportunities, according to a Foreign Office press release.

He appreciated the initiative to project Pakistan’s economic potential on a global platform and commended the dynamism, creativity, and resilience of Pakistani start-ups showcased at the pavilion.

The deputy prime minister underscored the critical role of start-ups in driving innovation, job creation, and socio-economic development across a range of sectors.

Finance minister meets ADB, investors

Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue, Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb, held multiple meetings in Davos, focusing on Pakistan’s economic reforms, strengthening development partnerships, and promoting investment-led growth.

In talks with Asian Development Bank President Masato Kanda, Aurangzeb reviewed progress on Pakistan’s reform programme and explored ways to deepen cooperation with the multilateral lender. Kanda said Pakistan was entering an important phase of economic transformation, citing renewed reform momentum and improving market confidence, and reaffirmed ADB’s continued support.

The finance minister said the past year marked a clear shift toward macroeconomic stability, pointing to easing inflation, lower policy rates, stronger foreign exchange reserves, and improved investor sentiment.

“He briefed the ADB president on structural reforms, particularly the renewed push for privatization and greater private sector participation, noting strong market interest and several projects in the pipeline,” according to the APP.

Energy sector reforms and efforts to promote sustainable, clean energy solutions also featured in the discussions, with both sides agreeing to maintain close coordination to support long-term, inclusive growth.

Earlier, Aurangzeb met Menzies Aviation Chairperson Hassan El Houry to discuss cooperation in the aviation sector. He outlined the government’s privatization agenda, including developments related to Pakistan International Airlines and plans to outsource operations at major airports in Islamabad, Karachi, and Lahore.

El Houry highlighted Pakistan’s potential for aviation and logistics investment, describing the country, particularly Sialkot, as strategically important, and expressed interest in expanding Menzies Aviation’s footprint in Pakistan.

The engagements concluded with both sides reaffirming their commitment to strengthening partnerships and advancing investment initiatives to support Pakistan’s sustainable economic growth.