Chairing a high-level meeting on priority sector lending, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb on Monday stressed on aligning the financial sector and lending to priority sectors with the government’s agenda of driving an export-led economic revival and future growth.
During his meeting with senior officials of the State Bank of Pakistan, the Pakistan Banks Association (PBA), and representatives from leading banks, the minister emphasized the critical role of banks in supporting and catalyzing export-oriented growth. He said the government is fully committed to this strategic direction and actively facilitating foreign direct investment that contributes to creating exportable surplus in key sectors.
Underlining the importance of recent investor engagement, Aurangzeb referenced the successful Pakistan Minerals Summit, which demonstrated the strong interest of domestic investors in high-value projects. He noted that such developments send a positive signal to international stakeholders and build investor confidence in Pakistan’s economic trajectory.
The minister recalled that Maersk Line, a major global container shipping company, had committed to invest $2 billion in Pakistan’s maritime and port infrastructure. This, he said, reflected the growing regional importance of trade corridors and the emerging realities of real market dynamics. Reiterating the role of the banking and financial sector in unlocking and expanding such strategic opportunities, especially in logistics, trade facilitation, and industrial support, he highlighted the government’s commitment to realistic and inclusive policy formulation.
According to Aurangzeb, the budget process had been preponed this year and he had personally visited various chambers of commerce months in advance to solicit proposals and feedback from stakeholders, ensuring that the upcoming federal budget is rooted in ground realities and geared toward sustainable growth.
He noted that while the government has achieved macroeconomic stability, this must be viewed as a foundation rather than a final destination. The objective is not to pursue rapid and unsustainable expansion, but to ensure that the economy grows on a durable, investment-led, and export-oriented basis. He cautioned against the temptation of short-term gains and underscored the need to avoid the cyclical boom-and-bust patterns that have historically hindered economic progress.
Earlier, PBA Chairman Zafar Masud gave a detailed briefing on the implementation of the support provided by the banks for the three key sectors of agriculture, small and medium enterprises, and digital and technology and various new initiatives.
Aurangzeb concluded the meeting with a call for coordinated efforts among banks, policymakers, and investors to sustain momentum and translate policy stability into real economic transformation. He stressed the importance of developing a robust mechanism for providing formal cash flow-based credit to smallholder farmers without collateral by leveraging fintech solutions such as remote sensing and embedded finance in line with the vision of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The government remains determined to maintain its course, encouraging long-term investments and exports that underpin a resilient and thriving economy, he added.