The International Finance Corporation (IFC) is working on a fund for entrepreneurs in Pakistan as the government seeks to attract more private capital and expand access to financing for businesses.
Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb and IFC officials discussed ways to mobilize private investment and improve financing opportunities during a meeting focused on private-sector development.
IFC officials briefed Aurangzeb on progress toward establishing the entrepreneurs’ fund, which is aimed at supporting Pakistan’s startup ecosystem.
The meeting also covered potential IFC support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), agriculture, affordable housing and public-private partnerships.
Aurangzeb said improving macroeconomic stability and investor confidence should lead to stronger private investment and business growth. He stressed the need to make financing more accessible and create better conditions for both local and international investors.
On affordable housing, the two sides discussed possible financing models for developers to help address supply constraints.
The officials also reviewed IFC’s AgriConnect initiative, particularly efforts to attract private financing by improving storage infrastructure and using electronic warehouse receipts as collateral. Aurangzeb emphasized the need to remove supply-side constraints and give lenders and farmers greater certainty.
Public-private partnerships were another part of the discussion, with IFC officials updating the finance minister on their work with provincial governments on water and power projects. These include efforts to improve water quality and safety and expand metering infrastructure across distribution companies.
The meeting also focused on increasing local-currency financing and developing longer-term funding options for private-sector projects.
Aurangzeb said Pakistan’s domestic financial resources should be complemented by international development finance to support productive investment. He also called for more affordable and long-term financing for SMEs, entrepreneurs, agriculture and housing.
Both sides agreed to continue working together on private-sector financing, investment and infrastructure development, with a focus on expanding access to capital and mobilizing greater domestic and international investment.
The post New Startup Fund Coming Soon appeared first on ProPakistani.
