Saudi eyes airport privatisation

Asyad Group chief meets FinMin, reaffirms commitment to expand investment

ISLAMABAD:

Saudi Arabia's Asyad Group has expressed interest in participating in Pakistan's upcoming airport privatisation process and is exploring additional investment opportunities across key sectors, including the financial sector, according to a statement from the Ministry of Finance on Thursday.

Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb held a meeting with Asyad Group Chief Executive Ghassan Ahmed Amodi, who was accompanied by Group Chief Financial Officer Javaid Akhtar, Wafi Energy Pakistan Chief Executive Zubair Shaikh and other senior officials.

Amodi reaffirmed Asyad Group's commitment to Pakistan as a long-term investment destination and expressed satisfaction with its experience in the country. He highlighted Pakistan's importance within the group's investment portfolio outside Saudi Arabia and shared plans to further expand its presence.

The finance minister welcomed the continued interest of Saudi investors in Pakistan and highlighted new opportunities being opened through the ongoing privatisation process. He emphasised the importance of attracting credible, long-term investors and facilitating commercially viable investments across key sectors.

Amodi briefed Aurangzeb on the group's interest in participating in the upcoming airport privatisation process and its efforts to bring together Saudi and international partners with relevant technical expertise. He also shared recent developments in the group's airport operations and its growing international experience in the sector.

The meeting also covered Wafi Energy Pakistan's ongoing expansion and investment plans, including its growing retail network, storage infrastructure and digitalisation initiatives. The company briefed the minister on its investments in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and other parts of the country and its plans to further expand its operations.

Amodi also apprised the finance minister of the group's interest in exploring additional investment opportunities in Pakistan, including the financial sector, and in bringing further Saudi and Pakistani investors together for potential projects.

Aurangzeb highlighted Pakistan's progress towards macroeconomic stability, including improvements in key economic indicators and the country's sovereign credit profile. He noted the government's continued focus on fiscal discipline, structural reforms and creating an enabling environment for sustainable investment and private-sector-led growth.

The finance minister appreciated Asyad Group's continued confidence in Pakistan and its commitment to expanding investment. He assured that the government would continue to facilitate investors and support efforts aimed at strengthening private-sector participation and promoting investment-led economic growth.

Aurangzeb also highlighted the importance of Pakistan's strategic location and its potential to serve as a gateway to regional markets. He encouraged continued collaboration with the private sector to identify viable opportunities and translate investment interest into tangible projects.

Amodi appreciated the government's continued engagement and reaffirmed Asyad Group's commitment to further investment in Pakistan and to strengthening the long-standing economic and commercial partnership between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.

The meeting underscores the growing interest of Saudi investors in Pakistan's privatisation and investment landscape, particularly as the government advances structural reforms and seeks to attract foreign investment across key sectors of the economy.