Pakistan has formally requested China’s support to join the BRICS alliance’s New Development Bank (NDB), signaling its intent to deepen financial and strategic cooperation with Beijing. The request was made during a meeting in Washington between Pakistan’s Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb and China’s Vice Finance Minister Liao Min. Islamabad expressed gratitude for the growing Chinese investments in agriculture, industry, and mineral sectors, highlighting China’s role in Pakistan’s economic stability. According to a government statement, Aurangzeb emphasized Pakistan’s desire to become a member of the NDB, which was established by BRICS nations — Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa — to fund infrastructure and sustainable development projects in emerging economies. Earlier this year, Pakistan’s Economic Coordination Committee approved the purchase of $582 million worth of NDB capital shares, marking a concrete step toward its membership bid.