New, Zealand envoy calls on finance minister,reaffirms Commi

Key Takeaways

ISLAMABAD, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 9th Sep, 2026) Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb held a meeting
David Pine, as both sides reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral economic relations, trade, investment and business-to-business cooper
David Pine called on the Finance Minister accompanied by Ms
Avanthi Kalansooriya, Policy and Public Affairs Adviser at the New Zealand High Commission, and Mr
Fudda, Honorary Consul General of New Zealand for Pakistan, said a release issued here on Wednesday

ISLAMABAD, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 9th Sep, 2026) Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb held a meeting with High Commissioner-designate of New Zealand to Pakistan, H.E. David Pine, as both sides reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral economic relations, trade, investment and business-to-business cooperation.

David Pine called on the Finance Minister accompanied by Ms. Avanthi Kalansooriya, Policy and Public Affairs Adviser at the New Zealand High Commission, and Mr. Moin M. Fudda, Honorary Consul General of New Zealand for Pakistan, said a release issued here on Wednesday.

During the meeting, Mr. Pine congratulated Senator Aurangzeb on Pakistan’s successful return to international capital markets through its recent Eurobond issuance. He also appreciated the progress achieved by Pakistan towards macroeconomic stability and economic reforms.

The New Zealand envoy briefed the Finance Minister on his country’s approach to enhancing engagement with Pakistan and the broader South Asian region, with particular emphasis on identifying practical avenues for stronger economic cooperation.

Senator Aurangzeb highlighted Pakistan’s progress in achieving macroeconomic stability and said the government’s focus was now on sustaining the reform momentum while shifting greater attention towards investment, exports, employment generation and sustainable economic growth.

He emphasized that policy continuity, fiscal discipline and structural reforms would remain essential to maintaining the country’s economic trajectory and strengthening investor confidence.

A major focus of the discussion was the need to promote stronger business-to-business linkages between Pakistan and New Zealand. Mr. Pine stressed the importance of encouraging companies from both countries to establish direct connections and explore areas of mutual commercial interest.

He also expressed New Zealand’s interest in more regular bilateral trade discussions to identify and address trade-related issues as they arise.

The Finance Minister said the private sector should take the lead in expanding commercial relations between the two countries, while the government would focus on creating an enabling ecosystem and providing necessary facilitation.

He observed that formal trade agreements could help accelerate business activity, but sustained private-sector linkages would be critical to building stronger foundations for long-term trade and investment flows.

The two sides also discussed the presence of a significant number of Pakistani scholars and students in New Zealand, particularly those pursuing studies in agriculture-related disciplines.

Senator Aurangzeb stressed the importance of translating these educational opportunities into practical economic benefits for Pakistan. He highlighted the potential contribution of returning professionals and the application of their acquired knowledge and expertise to domestic development.

Technology and innovation also featured prominently in the discussions, with the Finance Minister identifying the digital economy, technology and young talent as promising areas for enhanced bilateral cooperation.

He pointed to Pakistan’s expanding information technology and freelance ecosystem, saying the country had an opportunity to leapfrog in emerging sectors while continuing efforts to improve the competitiveness of traditional export industries.

Mr. Pine expressed,New Zealand’s interest in exploring opportunities across various sectors, including agri-tech and other areas of private-sector cooperation. He underscored the importance of developing stronger connections between the business communities of both countries.

Senator Aurangzeb welcomed the renewed engagement with New Zealand and emphasized the need for continued interaction at both government and private-sector levels to convert shared interests into concrete partnerships in trade, investment, knowledge and skills.

Mr. Pine appreciated the Finance Minister’s engagement and reaffirmed New Zealand’s commitment to strengthening bilateral economic relations with Pakistan through greater business-to-business cooperation and continued dialogue.

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