Aurangzeb Discusses M6 Motorway Financing With OPEC Fund

Federal Finance Minister Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb met Dr Abdulhamid Alkhalifa, President of the OPEC Fund for International Development, on the sidelines of the World Bank Group-IMF Annual Meetings 2026 in Bangkok on Thursday, October 15. Aurangzeb highlighted Pakistan’s economic stabilisation, progress under the IMF programme and renewed access to international capital markets, and appreciated the Fund’s willingness to expand trade and project financing support.

Discussions With the OPEC Fund

• M6 motorway: The talks covered financing for the M6 motorway, including the approved first tranche, the pending loan agreement and subsequent tranches.

• Other priorities: The ML-1 railway modernisation and power transmission infrastructure were identified as key priorities.

• Delivery: Both sides stressed faster approvals and stronger coordination to ensure timely project delivery, and also discussed regional peace and stability.

• Next step: Aurangzeb thanked Dr Alkhalifa for an invitation to visit the Fund, where the project agreement could possibly be signed.

Meeting With the UN Deputy Secretary-General

Aurangzeb also met UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed and discussed strengthening the Borrowers’ Forum through peer learning, continuity in governance and an effective virtual secretariat. He emphasised a stronger Global South voice and more responsive international financial institutions. They stressed adequate financing for the Sustainable Development Goals, poverty reduction, social protection and decent jobs, and discussed climate financing gaps, simpler access to funds and stronger capacity to prepare bankable projects. He also highlighted local-currency financing to reduce exchange-rate risk. He thanked Mohammed for appreciating Pakistan’s mediation efforts in the recent US-Iran crisis.