Shehbaz Sharif meets global financial leaders in London to discuss investment in Pakistan

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif held a series of meetings with senior representatives of major international financial institutions in London on Tuesday with discussions centred on Pakistan’s economic reforms investment prospects and efforts to strengthen links with global capital markets.

LONDON: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif held a series of meetings with senior representatives of major international financial institutions in London on Tuesday with discussions centred on Pakistan’s economic reforms investment prospects and efforts to strengthen links with global capital markets.

During his UK visit the prime minister met executives from Barclays, JPMorgan, Citi, BlackRock and Rothschild & Co. The talks covered Pakistan’s economic stabilisation measures the evolving investment environment and opportunities for greater participation by international financial institutions in the country.

At Barclays, Shehbaz Sharif met Mohamed Kamal Syed, Head of Private Bank and Wealth Management UK. The prime minister welcomed the institution’s interest in Pakistan and outlined government measures aimed at improving economic stability. He encouraged Barclays to examine investment opportunities across Pakistan’s financial sector and broader economy.

A JPMorgan delegation headed by Mathieu Wiltz Co-Chief Executive Officer held discussions with the prime minister on expanding cooperation in capital markets trade finance and investment banking. Shehbaz Sharif invited the bank to increase its operations and engagement in Pakistan. The delegation also showed interest in the country’s sovereign debt markets and corporate banking sector.

The prime minister separately met senior Citi representatives led by David Livingstone Chief Client Officer. He acknowledged Citi’s longstanding involvement in Pakistan and encouraged the bank to broaden its corporate and institutional banking activities.

BlackRock officials Gordon Fraser and Sam Vecht, Co-Heads of Emerging Markets and Frontiers, along with portfolio manager and research analyst Emily Fletcher also met the prime minister. Shehbaz Sharif invited the global asset manager to consider greater investment in Pakistani equities and fixed-income instruments as part of its emerging and frontier markets strategy.

The discussions also highlighted the importance of maintaining policy consistency to build and sustain investor confidence.

In another meeting, Shehbaz Sharif held talks with Lord Mark Sedwill, Chair of Geostrategic Advisory at Rothschild & Co. and Majeed Ishaq Head of UK Investment Banking. The meeting covered Pakistan’s geoeconomic priorities as well as possible advisory cooperation involving capital markets and investment planning.

According to the government representatives of the financial institutions expressed interest in Pakistan’s economic progress and discussed ways to strengthen their engagement with the country’s financial sector.

The meetings were part of Islamabad’s broader efforts to attract long-term international investment, expand financial-sector cooperation and strengthen Pakistan’s connections with global capital markets.

Federal Minister for Finance Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb and Adviser to the Prime Minister on Privatisation and Chairman of the Privatisation Commission Muhammad Ali also participated in the meetings.