Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb took part in a high-level panel at the 23rd Doha Forum, invited by the Doha Forum organisers, the Ministry of Finance of Qatar and the IMF, to discuss global trade tensions and policy responses across MENA. The session examined how rising uncertainty and shifting supply chains create both risks and openings for regional cooperation and diversification.
The minister highlighted Pakistan’s progress in macroeconomic stabilisation under the IMF programme and ongoing structural reforms in taxation, the energy sector, state-owned enterprises and private-sector development. He stressed that these reforms are central to sustaining fiscal resilience and restoring both primary and current account surpluses amid volatile external conditions.
Aurangzeb noted constructive engagement with the United States on tariff matters, securing a favourable 19% tariff treatment on key textile exports while accelerating product and market diversification. He underlined the rise of Pakistan’s IT services exports, expected to reach USD 4 billion this year, and expanding trade links with Gulf and Central Asian economies as part of a broader export strategy discussed at the Doha Forum.
The minister pointed to strong remittance inflows of USD 18–20 billion annually from the MENA and GCC region as a key pillar supporting Pakistan’s external buffers. At the same time he warned that climate change and demographic pressures remain pressing long-term challenges for Pakistan, with recent flooding reducing GDP growth by an estimated 0.5% this year.
Qatar’s Finance Minister Ali Bin Ahmed Al Kuwari described Pakistan as a brother country and underlined deep bilateral ties in LNG, agriculture and textile trade. He announced that the new GCC Pakistan Free Trade Agreement, the GCC’s first FTA in many years, will significantly expand trade flows and long-term cooperation, and expressed strong interest in partnering with Pakistan on AI and digital technologies given the country’s growing talent pool.
IMF Deputy Managing Director Bo Li commended Pakistan’s reform momentum and resilience-building efforts, noting additional IMF support of USD 1.3 billion under the Resilience and Sustainability Facility to strengthen fiscal, financial and climate resilience — a development Aurangzeb welcomed during discussions at the Doha Forum.
The minister emphasised Pakistan’s balanced, pragmatic approach to relations with China and the United States, citing progress on CPEC Phase 2.0 and emerging collaboration with the US in minerals, AI, blockchain and digital governance. He also highlighted the potential of Pakistan’s youth, including the country’s position as the world’s third-largest freelancer community, to benefit from targeted upskilling in advanced technologies.
Following the panel, a bilateral meeting between Senator Aurangzeb and Minister Al Kuwari focused on deepening economic cooperation, maximising opportunities under the new GCC Pakistan FTA and strengthening long-term energy collaboration. Both sides discussed joint initiatives in AI, digital infrastructure and skills development, and agreed to formalise mechanisms to support trade diversification, technology transfer, climate resilience and investment facilitation as Pakistan and Qatar enter a new phase of strategic partnership.
