Priorities for new government

The new government’s steadfast commitment to economic revival and proactive approach to building upon the groundwork laid by the caretaker administration are encouraging signs. The government’s swift action in initiating negotiations with the IMF for another loan programme is necessary to address the substantial external financial deficit and prevent a repeat of the past six years’ default scenario. This marks a significant departure from previous practices, where new administrations often delayed similar actions for months for political reasons. Another astute government decision is the appointment of Muhammad Aurangzeb as its finance minister. This choice offers numerous advantages. Among his achievements in his previous role as the head of Habib Bank, he spearheaded extensive digitalisation efforts, facilitated increased funding for the modernisation of agriculture, and fostered collaboration with the Bank of China to leverage CPEC for enhancing Pakistan’s regional and global integration.