Tarik Ali Khan, the newly appointed High Commissioner of Canada to Pakistan, called on Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb at the Finance Division today.
The Finance Minister welcomed the High Commissioner and congratulated him on assuming his responsibilities in Islamabad. The Minister shared an overview of Pakistan’s recent economic performance and reform agenda, noting that after a challenging period three years ago, the country’s macroeconomic indicators had shown marked improvement, with inflation brought under control and fiscal discipline restored. He highlighted the government’s continued focus on structural reforms, privatization of state-owned enterprises, and private sector-led growth as part of the broader strategy for sustainable economic recovery.
Senator Aurangzeb also briefed the High Commissioner on Pakistan’s engagement with international financial institutions and development partners, as well as the government’s priority to attract foreign direct investment, particularly in energy, infrastructure, and mineral sectors. He noted that Canadian participation in projects such as the Reko Diq mine reflected the growing potential for deeper economic ties between the two countries.
The Minister emphasized the importance of expanding bilateral trade, which currently stands below potential, and invited greater Canadian investment in Pakistan’s renewable energy, mining, and technology sectors. He also underscored the need to enhance formal remittance channels from the Pakistani diaspora in Canada, which remains a valuable bridge between the two economies.
Tarik Ali Khan conveyed greetings from the Government of Canada and commended Pakistan’s economic progress under the ongoing IMF programme. He said that trade diversification is a key priority for Canada and that his government is keen to strengthen trade, investment, and development cooperation with Pakistan.
He noted that Canada is actively pursuing infrastructure and energy expansion, including LNG and critical minerals development, and sees opportunities to collaborate with Pakistan in these areas. He also mentioned Canadian companies working in renewable energy projects in Karachi and expressed Canada’s interest in supporting Pakistan’s green transition and climate resilience efforts.
The High Commissioner further emphasized the shared potential to boost agricultural trade and business-to-business linkages, including through a proposed Canada-Pakistan Chamber of Commerce. He also reaffirmed Canada’s commitment to climate finance and ongoing contributions to multilateral climate funds.
Both sides exchanged views on the ongoing negotiations for a bilateral investment treaty and agreed that its early conclusion would further enhance investor confidence and economic engagement.
The Finance Minister also briefed the High Commissioner on Pakistan’s priorities for population management, poverty reduction, and climate adaptation, underscoring the government’s commitment to long-term sustainable development.
The meeting concluded with both sides expressing their mutual resolve to deepen economic and trade cooperation and to continue working closely to unlock the full potential of Pakistan–Canada relations.
