Pakistan expects its economy to grow by more than 4 percent in fiscal year 2027 and aims to raise over $1 billion by privatizing five or six state-owned entities, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb told Reuters on Monday.
Speaking on the sidelines of the annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank in Bangkok, Aurangzeb said the economy remained on track despite elevated oil prices. He added that Pakistan had secured adequate fuel supplies and that key sectors, including agriculture, were holding up.
The government is also pursuing a proposed $10 billion exchange stabilization facility with the United States, Aurangzeb said. Pakistan is continuing discussions on the proposal but has not set a timeline for concluding negotiations. He said the facility would provide additional support but its absence would not affect the country’s access to financial markets.
Pakistan reached a staff-level agreement with the IMF last week that could unlock about $1.21 billion in financing under its existing loan program and a climate-related facility.
Aurangzeb said the government had around a dozen state-owned entities in its privatization pipeline, including power distribution companies and plans to outsource airport operations. It expects five or six of these transactions to be completed during the current fiscal year, potentially raising more than $1 billion.
The government has positioned privatization as part of its broader economic reform agenda, following the sale of Pakistan International Airlines last year. Aurangzeb said the government wanted the private sector to play a leading role in the economy, with the state providing support and creating an enabling environment.
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