Economic outlook improves as Pakistan eyes 4% growth this fiscal year: Aurangzeb

Islamabad (Web Desk): Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb has stated that Pakistan’s economy is expected to grow by around four percent in the current fiscal year, marking a clear improvement compared to the previous year.

He shared these remarks while speaking at the EU-Pakistan High Level Business Forum held in Islamabad.

The finance minister said that the country’s macroeconomic situation has been steadily strengthening, with key indicators showing signs of stability and recovery.

He noted that Pakistan achieved a current account surplus of slightly over $1 billion in March this year, and expressed satisfaction over the continued rise in IT exports, the positive performance of value-added industries, and the increase in remittance inflows.

Muhammad Aurangzeb added that Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves are projected to reach nearly $18 billion by the end of June, which would be sufficient to cover around three months of imports.

Addressing the forum, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Industries and Production Haroon Akhtar Khan underlined that the EU continues to be Pakistan’s largest export destination.

He highlighted that the GSP Plus status has played an important role in widening market access and improving compliance standards for Pakistani exports.

Haroon Akhtar further said that the relationship between Pakistan and the EU should evolve beyond trade, shifting towards broader cooperation in investment, technology transfer, and stronger integration into global supply chains.

He identified several sectors with strong investment potential, including mining, tourism, renewable energy, agricultural modernization, pharmaceuticals, logistics, and infrastructure development.

The SAPM also drew attention to the largely untapped economic opportunities in Gilgit-Baltistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), and Balochistan, noting their rich natural resources and strategic investment appeal.

While inviting European partners to explore Pakistan’s tourism sector, he described it as a unique blend of scenic landscapes and cultural richness that holds considerable potential for high-value investment opportunities.