ISLAMABAD: A delegation of Jefferies Investors, led by Alia Moubayed from Jefferies, on Thursday called on the Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue, Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb.
The delegation included Vasil Nikolov from HBK Investment Management, Khaled Sellami from Barings, Xin Xu from Ashmore, Salman Ahmed from Fidelity, Khurram Sheikh from Jefferies, and Mahmood Ali Shah Bukhari from Ktrade Securities, said a news release.
The delegation discussed Pakistan’s macroeconomic outlook, investment climate, and ongoing economic reforms. They invited the Finance Minister to the Pakistani Investors Day in London, scheduled for May 2025, as part of efforts to strengthen engagement with global investors.
Foreign investors meet Aurangzeb
Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb highlighted Pakistan’s economic stabilization, emphasizing the government’s commitment to structural reforms in taxation, energy, state-owned enterprises (SOEs), and privatization. He noted that the economy is now in a stable position in quantitative terms and outlined the government’s proactive approach to fiscal discipline, revenue mobilization, and investment facilitation.
The Minister informed the delegation about key tax reforms, including the activation of the National Tax Council to enhance coordination between the federal government and provinces.
He elaborated on the expansion of the tax base, with a focus on formally bringing the wholesale, retail, and real estate sectors into the tax net. He also discussed the agricultural income tax, stating that all four provinces have approved the bill, and it is expected to take effect from July 1, 2025.
Additionally, he noted that tax policy has been moved from the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to the Finance Division, ensuring a more strategic and policy-driven approach. On the fiscal side, the Minister underscored the government’s right-sizing efforts to control expenditures and manage public finances efficiently.
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