Aurangzeb calls Panda Bond issuance transformational step

ISLAMABAD: Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb on Saturday said Pakistan’s inaugural Panda Bondissuancemarked a “transformational step” in the country’s financial landscape. opens a new chapter in Pakistan-China economic cooperation by giving Pakistan access to the world’s second-largest and second-deepest capital market for the first time.

In an interview withChina Global Television Networkfollowing the official Panda Bond issuance ceremony in Beijing, Mr Aurangzeb said the successful issuance reflected the growing confidence of Chinese institutions. global investors in Pakistan’s macroeconomic stability, reform agenda and economic direction.

“Nearly one-quarter of bilateral trade between Pakistan. China is already being settled in RMB and Chinese Yuan (CNY),” he said, highlighting increasing financial integration and expanding economic partnership between the two countries.

Discussing broader Pak­ist­an-China economic coo­p­eration, Mr Aurangzeb said the first phase of theChina-Pakistan Economic Corridorunder the Belt. Road Initiative had largely focused on infrastructure development, while the second phase was increasingly centred on business-to-business collaboration, industrial cooperation and monetisation of infrastructure assets.

“The strategic priorities of Pakistan. China remain closely aligned in promoting connectivity, tra­de, investment, and sustainable economic gro­wth,” he said.

Mr Aurangzeb also said Pakistan had successfully managed the “first-order implications” of the prevailing regional conflict, including procurement. logistics challenges, while maintaining macroeconomic stability.

“Key economic indicators continue moving in the right direction,” he said.

He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to structural reforms, fiscal discipline. investment-friendly policies aimed at promoting long-term and inclusive economic growth.

“Ongoing reforms in taxation, energy, state-owned enterprises,. digital governance are strengthening investor confidence and improving Pakistan’s economic outlook,” he said.

Published in Dawn, May 17th, 2026