China Pakistan discuss energy reforms in a high level meeting emphasizing robust bilateral relations between China and Pakistan.
Senior Pakistani officials including Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb and Power Minister Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari, engaged in talks with Chinese officials regarding Pakistan’s energy sector.
According to a Finance Division statement, Finance and Revenue Minister Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb met with China’s Charge D’affaires Shi Yuanqiang and other officials from the Chinese Embassy on Thursday.
Power Minister Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Power Muhammad Ali, and Minister of State for Finance & Revenue Ali Pervaiz Malik were also present at the meeting.
The statement mentioned that Aurangzeb warmly received the Chinese delegation and emphasized the robust bilateral ties between Pakistan and China.
Aurangzeb stated that Pakistan has obtained debt rollover commitments from China, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE.
The statement noted that Aurangzeb highlighted recent positive changes in Pakistan’s economy, such as rising foreign exchange reserves, lower inflation, and improved tax collection.
In the meeting, the minister also detailed major government reforms in the energy sector, state-owned enterprises (SOEs), and current privatization initiatives.
He emphasized the importance of export-led growth and reiterated Pakistan’s dedication to attracting more foreign direct investment (FDI).
The neighboring countries have been close allies for a long time, and loan rollovers or disbursements from China have previously assisted Pakistan in meeting its external financing requirements.
Aurangzeb, during the meeting, reminisced about his recent visit to China, noting that he had “highly productive discussions with the Finance Minister and other officials on proposals to boost economic cooperation between the two nations.”
Energy Sector Reforms
Meanwhile, Power Minister Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari expressed Islamabad’s deep appreciation for Chinese investments in Pakistan’s energy sector.
Leghari mentioned that the government is carrying out several reforms to tackle challenges in the energy sector, according to the statement.
The Chargé d’affaires reaffirmed the Chinese government’s commitment to backing Pakistan’s sustainable economic development.
He stated that the Embassy is collaborating with various departments on both sides to ensure the implementation of agreements made during the Prime Minister’s visit to China, according to the statement.
Last month, Aurangzeb announced at a press conference that Pakistan had started discussions on restructuring its power sector debt with China.
