Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue, Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb, met Alexander De Croo, UNDP Administrator and UN Under-Secretary-General, in Bangkok. The talks took place on the sidelines of the World Bank Group–IMF Annual Meetings 2026 and focused on development financing, climate resilience and employment.
Aurangzeb stressed the need to build implementation capacity so that existing funds and policy frameworks can become bankable projects. Both sides reviewed UNDP’s Implementation Bridge and plans for an investable project pipeline through the SDG Investment Fair and the V20 platform.
Financing options, debt swaps and biodiversity
The meeting weighed integrated financing, blended finance, public–private partnerships and closer UNDP-World Bank cooperation. Biodiversity financing and possible debt-for-nature and debt-for-climate swaps were also discussed, with Pakistan’s external debt mix taken into account.
Job creation, small business lending and climate insurance
Aurangzeb highlighted private sector-led job creation and wider cash flow-based lending, digital finance and guarantees for small businesses and farmers. He also outlined possible cooperation on climate risk insurance, including the Global Shield and parametric insurance.
