Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb has emphasized the importance of public-private partnerships in driving sustainable development and promoting inclusive growth. He was talking to Country Lead for Pakistan at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Syed Ali Mahmood and CEO of Karandaaz Waqas ul Hassan who called on him in Islamabad today. The meeting focused on exploring avenues for collaboration and innovative solutions to address key developmental challenges in Pakistan. Syed Ali Mahmood shared insights from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation's ongoing initiatives in Pakistan, particularly in context of financial inclusion. He appreciated the Government's ambition for digitalizing the economy and offered support. He further expressed the Foundation's commitment to supporting Pakistan's efforts in achieving its development goals and improving the lives of its citizens. Waqas ul Hassan provided an overview of Karandaaz's role in promoting financial inclusion and entrepreneurship in Pakistan. He hig hlighted the Foundation's focus on fostering innovation and expanding access to financial services for underserved communities, thereby contributing to economic empowerment and poverty alleviation. The Minister reiterated the government's commitment to creating an enabling environment for innovation and entrepreneurship, emphasizing the importance of partnership and collaboration in driving sustainable development. During the discussions, Sustainable growth and management of Raast, connectivity of Raast with Buna and digitalization of the tax system were discussed as the critical initiatives for collaboration. Source: Radio Pakistan