Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb said Pakistan is now shifting its focus from economic stabilisation to sustainable growth, with investment, exports, employment and private-sector activity becoming key priorities.

He made the remarks during a meeting with Asian Development Bank Vice President Yingming Yang, where both sides reviewed economic reforms, investment, private-sector development and Pakistan’s cooperation with the ADB.

Yang praised Pakistan’s progress in fiscal management, external accounts and macroeconomic stability. He also welcomed improvements in Pakistan’s sovereign credit ratings and said the developments reflected progress in economic reforms.

Aurangzeb said the government wants to make recent reforms permanent while continuing changes in domestic revenue collection, public finances, energy, insurance and pension systems.

The finance minister also stressed the need to improve access to funding for small and medium enterprises, particularly to help them expand, create jobs, increase exports and become part of global supply chains.

The meeting also covered greater ADB involvement in private-sector projects, public-private partnerships and new financing arrangements.

Both sides discussed potential cooperation in infrastructure, transport, clean energy, water management and climate resilience, as well as measures to improve the preparation and implementation of development projects.

Yang reaffirmed the ADB’s commitment to Pakistan and said the bank was ready to expand support for private-sector development, SME financing and other reform priorities.

The two sides also reviewed pension reforms, institutional strengthening and ongoing and planned ADB programmes supporting structural reforms and Pakistan’s longer-term economic growth.