ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) have agreed to step up efforts to mobilise private capital, identifying an entrepreneurs’ fund, affordable housing, agricultural finance and public-private partnerships (PPPs) as priority areas for expanding long-term financing.
The matter was discussed at a meeting between Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb and IFC Director Simon Andrews, who was accompanied by Principal Country Officer Naz Khan.
The IFC told the minister that it is developing a fund to support Pakistan’s start-up ecosystem with relevant stakeholders. On housing, the corporation reported progress on engagement to ease supply-side constraints through potential developer finance models.
On agriculture, talks focused on the IFC’s AgriConnect initiative, which seeks to attract private financing by improving storage infrastructure and enabling electronic warehouse receipts as collateral. The minister stressed the need for greater certainty for lenders and farmers.
The IFC also briefed the minister on its work with provincial governments on PPP projects in the water and power sectors. These include initiatives to improve water quality and safety, and to introduce advanced metering infrastructure across distribution companies, with the aim of improving service delivery and reducing losses.
Both sides discussed expanding local-currency financing and strengthening long-term financing mechanisms for private-sector projects. Mr Aurangzeb said international development finance should complement domestic resources.
Citing improving macroeconomic stability and growing investor confidence, the minister said the government aims to translate these gains into higher investment, capital formation and private-sector-led growth. He stressed the importance of wider access to affordable, long-term capital for SMEs, entrepreneurs, agriculture and housing.
The two sides reaffirmed their commitment to closer cooperation on private-sector financing, investment and infrastructure development.
For more real estate news and special reports, visit Chakor.
Sources:
BBC-featured Content Specialist with a sharp eye for search intent and a proven ability to turn content into a growth engine. I leverage cutting-edge digital marketing tools to craft strategies that fuel organic traffic, amplify brand growth, and own the local SEO landscape, particularly across the competitive real estate market. I help brands dominate search rankings and convert visibility into measurable business success.
