Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb, Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue, along with leading entrepreneurs of Pakistan, visited the Arif Habib Group’s Head Office, where he met with the Group’s leadership to discuss Pakistan’s economic outlook, capital markets, the investment climate and the Government’s ongoing reform agenda.
The leadership of the Arif Habib Group appreciated the Finance Minister’s stewardship of the economy during a challenging period and acknowledged the progress made in restoring macroeconomic stability. Discussions highlighted the decline in inflation to single-digit levels, the reduction in policy rates, improved fiscal and external sector indicators, strengthening foreign exchange reserves and renewed investor confidence. Pakistan’s successful progress under the IMF programme and the improvement in its sovereign ratings outlook were also recognised as important milestones in rebuilding confidence and laying the foundation for long-term economic growth.
The meeting also noted the exceptional performance of Pakistan’s capital markets during this period. Since Senator Aurangzeb assumed office in March 2024, the benchmark KSE-100 Index has risen from approximately 65,000 points to over 180,000 points, while FY2026 delivered an annual return of approximately 43.5% and market capitalisation surpassed Rs. 20 trillion. The revival of IPO activity was recognised as another encouraging indicator of renewed corporate confidence and growing investor participation in Pakistan’s equity markets.
While acknowledging the positive direction of the Federal Budget, participants discussed the need for further measures to stimulate private investment, create employment and enhance government revenues. The discussion recognised the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC)‘s priority sectors, including agriculture, mining, infrastructure and information technology, as key drivers of Pakistan’s next phase of economic growth and emphasised the importance of accelerating investment and implementation in these areas.
Particular emphasis was placed on the construction sector as one of the fastest avenues for stimulating economic activity. Participants noted that revitalising construction would generate immediate employment, utilise idle capacity across allied industries, increase government revenues and deliver meaningful economic growth without adversely impacting the current account. The meeting also highlighted the opportunity to unlock the Government’s extensive land bank through public-private partnership (PPP) models, with land contributed as equity to catalyse housing and infrastructure development and accelerate project execution.
The discussion further underscored the importance of Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) as a transparent, fully documented investment vehicle capable of mobilising domestic liquidity into productive sectors, supporting infrastructure development and broadening investment opportunities. As a pioneer of Pakistan’s REIT sector, the Arif Habib Group reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the Government in leveraging REITs and public-private partnerships to unlock investment, accelerate development, create employment and foster sustainable economic growth.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Arif Habib, Chairman, Arif Habib Group, said: “The progress achieved in restoring macroeconomic stability has laid a strong foundation for Pakistan’s next phase of growth. The remarkable performance of the Pakistan Stock Exchange and the revival of IPO activity reflect renewed investor confidence. The next step is to translate this stability into higher investment, greater employment and sustained economic expansion. Accelerating development across the SIFC’s priority sectors, while revitalising construction through public-private partnerships and wider utilisation of REITs, presents one of the fastest and most effective opportunities to create jobs, enhance government revenues and unlock Pakistan’s economic potential. The private sector stands ready to partner with the Government in achieving these objectives.”
Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb thanked the Arif Habib Group for its continued contribution to Pakistan’s economy and capital markets and reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to maintaining macroeconomic stability, implementing structural reforms and fostering an investment-friendly environment through continued collaboration with the private sector.
“The Government remains committed to maintaining macroeconomic stability while implementing structural reforms that strengthen Pakistan’s competitiveness and improve the ease of doing business. Sustainable economic growth will be driven by private sector investment, vibrant capital markets and continued collaboration between government and industry. We value the constructive engagement of institutions such as the Arif Habib Group in supporting Pakistan’s economic development.”
The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to maintaining close engagement between policymakers and the private sector to deepen Pakistan’s capital markets, encourage productive investment, expand employment opportunities and support Pakistan’s long-term economic growth.
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