ISLAMABAD, (APP – UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News – 16th Jun, 2026) Pakistan and the United Kingdom (UK) here on Tuesday reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining close engagement and further strengthening bilateral cooperation to support sustainable economic growth, institutional development and regional stability.
The reaffirmation was made during a call on meeting of MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the middle East, Afghanistan and Pakistan (MENAP) of the United Kingdom, Hamish Falconer with Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue, Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb.
The meeting involved a comprehensive exchange of views on regional developments, Pakistan’s macroeconomic outlook, ongoing structural reforms, fiscal priorities, institutional modernization, and opportunities to further strengthen Pakistan–United Kingdom economic cooperation, said to press release issued here by finance ministry.
Falconer was accompanied by Ms. Jane Marriott, British High Commissioner to Pakistan. Also present during the meeting were Ms. Alice Duffy, Ministerial Private Secretary; Mr. Sarabjit Singh, Second Secretary (Economy), British High Commission; and senior officials of the Finance Division.
The Finance Minister briefed the visiting delegation on the government’s economic reform agenda and shared key priorities reflected in the Federal Budget 2026–27. He reaffirmed the government’s focus on preserving macroeconomic stability, sustaining the economic recovery, accelerating structural reforms, and creating conditions for inclusive and durable growth.
During the discussion, the Finance Minister also referred to recent regional developments, including the easing of tensions following the recently agreed understanding between the United States and Iran.
He underlined Pakistan’s consistent support for dialogue, de-escalation, and peaceful resolution of conflicts and noted that Pakistan had actively advocated for reducing regional tensions at an early stage. He observed that prolonged instability in the region carried implications for economic confidence, energy markets, supply chains, and growth prospects across emerging economies.
The Minister shared that the government’s economic planning and fiscal assumptions had remained mindful of possible external and geopolitical risks, including potential second-order impacts arising from prolonged regional uncertainty, while emphasizing that improved regional stability creates more favourable conditions for investment, trade, and economic activity.
Aurangzeb also briefed the delegation on Pakistan’s ongoing fiscal and institutional reform efforts. He highlighted measures being undertaken to improve revenue mobilization, strengthen compliance, reduce leakages, and modernize tax administration through greater use of technology, data integration, centralized processing, and digital invoicing.
The Finance Minister emphasized that the reform agenda sought not only to improve revenue performance but also to strengthen transparency, reduce discretionary intervention, and rebuild trust between citizens, businesses, and public institutions.
The discussion further covered the Government’s broader structural reform program, including privatization, rightsizing of public sector entities, improving public expenditure efficiency, and expanding digital governance and targeted social protection mechanisms.
The Minister highlighted progress being made towards technology-enabled service delivery and more efficient allocation of public resources.
On the occasion, Hamish Falconer appreciated the government’s commitment to economic reform and acknowledged the seriousness and breadth of Pakistan’s ongoing transformation agenda.
He noted the importance of sustained reform implementation, institutional strengthening, and continued efforts to enhance economic competitiveness and governance. He also reaffirmed the United Kingdom’s interest in continued engagement and cooperation in areas of mutual economic interest.
