Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Muhammad Aurangzeb has called on the Netherlands to enhance trade and investment cooperation with Pakistan, highlighting that the country has shifted from crisis management to reform-based economic stability. He made these remarks during a meeting with Robert-Jan Siegert, the new Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Pakistan, at the Finance Division. Aurangzeb welcomed the envoy and commended the Netherlands for its consistent partnership in areas of development, trade and private-sector-led initiatives, stressing that Pakistan is now entering a new phase of sustained reform and growth.
Aurangzeb briefed the ambassador on Pakistan’s economic progress under the International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme, explaining that global confidence in the country’s economy has improved, as reflected by recent upgrades in outlook from all three major credit rating agencies. He noted that the government has implemented measures to stabilise the energy sector, enhance governance of state-owned enterprises and advance the privatisation process. The finance minister added that restrictions on the repatriation of profits and dividends had been eased to encourage foreign investment, signalling renewed trust from international markets. Pakistan, he said, was transitioning from a consumption-based model to one driven by investment and exports, ensuring long-term sustainability and resilience.
The minister highlighted growing investor interest from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Europe, the United States and China across various sectors including minerals, mining, agriculture, information technology, infrastructure and pharmaceuticals. He said Pakistan’s strategy now prioritises attracting sustainable inflows through trade and investment rather than reliance on external loans. Aurangzeb emphasised that fiscal reforms were underway to broaden the tax base and improve fairness in taxation across key sectors such as retail, real estate and agriculture. He added that revenue digitalisation through AI-powered monitoring systems was helping to curb leakages and strengthen transparency.
Aurangzeb also discussed progress in state-owned enterprise (SOE) restructuring, rightsizing of federal entities and privatisation initiatives, noting the successful divestment of a financial institution and plans to move forward with power distribution companies. Referring to the Netherlands’ export-oriented model, he said Pakistan’s industries must enhance competitiveness to capture international markets. As part of this effort, the government has started phasing out additional customs duties to reduce protectionism and promote efficiency. Ambassador Siegert appreciated these reforms and reaffirmed his country’s commitment to expand bilateral economic and investment ties. He said nearly 50 Dutch companies were already operating in Pakistan and expressed interest in exploring further opportunities in agriculture, IT, textiles and other sectors where the Netherlands has expertise.
The ambassador also recognised the role of FMO, the Dutch development finance institution, in facilitating investments and supporting future ventures in Pakistan. He welcomed Pakistan’s active engagement in the European Union’s Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+) and hoped for continued cooperation as the new GSP+ cycle begins. Aurangzeb assured the envoy that Pakistan remains committed to meeting all reform and compliance obligations under the GSP+ framework and will continue close engagement with the EU and member states, including the Netherlands. Both sides agreed to deepen economic collaboration through sustainable partnerships and mutually beneficial trade initiatives.
During the same day, Aurangzeb also met with Jean Todt, the United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Road Safety, who was in Islamabad for the Regional Transport Ministers’ Conference. Todt discussed the global challenge of road accidents and emphasised investment in safer mobility infrastructure. Aurangzeb expressed Pakistan’s dedication to improving road safety and integrating sustainability and safety as core priorities under its national development agenda. Both sides agreed to maintain collaboration on initiatives promoting safe and inclusive mobility.
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