Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb, Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue, met with IMF Director Jihad Azour on Tuesday to discuss the economic repercussions of the ongoing Middle East conflict on Pakistan. This meeting took place during the World Bank–IMF Spring Meetings 2026 in Washington, D.C.
During their discussions, Aurangzeb and Azour, who leads the IMF’s Middle East and Central Asia Department, along with the IMF mission team to Pakistan, reviewed the current economic challenges. The finance minister expressed gratitude for the successful Staff-Level Agreement (SLA) and emphasized his hope for the IMF Executive Board’s prompt approval to maintain momentum in Pakistan’s reform agenda.
In a significant development, Aurangzeb described the Middle East conflict as one of the most substantial supply shocks in recent memory. He detailed how the government is actively addressing the secondary and tertiary effects of this crisis, particularly concerning economic growth and inflationary pressures.
The minister also highlighted Pakistan’s recent successful Eurobond repayment and reiterated the government’s dedication to fulfilling all bilateral and multilateral external financial commitments punctually. Both parties exchanged views on the progress of fiscal and structural reforms, alongside ongoing initiatives to boost revenue collection.
They concurred on the critical importance of preserving macroeconomic stability as a cornerstone for sustainable and inclusive economic growth moving forward.
