Finance Minister Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb has reiterated the government’s focus on macroeconomic stability, strengthening foreign exchange reserves, and enhancing investor confidence, as Wafi Energy Pakistan Ltd. signaled plans to invest up to $100 million in the country over the next two to three years.
The assurance came during a meeting at the Finance Division on Monday with a Wafi Energy delegation led by Javaid Akhtar, CFO at Asyad Group and board member of Wafi Energy Pakistan, along with CEO Zubair Shaikh and CFO Zarrar Mahmud.
Macroeconomic Stability Central to Investment Climate
Aurangzeb emphasized that economic stability is central to the government’s strategy and crucial for sustaining investor trust. He noted that improvements in foreign exchange availability stem from broader economic discipline and reforms, enabling smoother business transactions, dividend repatriation, and cross-border payments.
He highlighted that improving economic indicators are already fostering confidence among both domestic and foreign investors, with local investment playing a key role in attracting foreign inflows.
Public-Private Partnerships and Infrastructure Development
The discussion also explored the use of public-private partnership (PPP) models and structured finance for infrastructure projects.
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Aurangzeb said such frameworks have been successful at the provincial level and called for stronger engagement from the banking sector to replicate these models nationally.
Wafi Energy Plans Expansion and Modernization
The Wafi Energy delegation informed the finance minister that improved operating conditions have enabled the company to expand its retail and storage footprint, investing in modernization, efficiency, and digitization.
The planned investment of $100 million will focus on:
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Expanding the retail network and storage capacity
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Infrastructure development and supply resilience
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Technology-driven improvements and digitization initiatives
The company stressed that a stable, transparent, and predictable regulatory and fiscal framework is essential to support long-term investment decisions in the oil marketing sector.
Government Support and Strategic Engagement
In response, Aurangzeb reiterated the government’s commitment to privatization, outsourcing, and digitization, noting that the private sector is better equipped to manage commercial assets efficiently.
He assured that future privatization processes will remain transparent and competitive, in line with the Prime Minister’s directives.
The finance minister also highlighted Pakistan’s strategic partnerships with international investors, including Saudi Arabia, emphasizing that such cooperation strengthens economic and investment ties.
Aurangzeb assured the delegation that all concerns raised during the meeting would be reviewed through relevant institutional mechanisms to promote long-term growth and investor confidence.
