KARACHI- Standard Chartered and IFC, today launches a landmark USD 400 million risk-participation facility to extend short-term trade and working-capital financing to Pakistan’s leading corporations and exporters.
This will strengthen the foreign-exchange inflows of the country, providing the much-needed liquidity to the corporate entities involved in the export-oriented sectors, thereby supporting the overall economic recovery and sustainable growth of Pakistan.
Rehan Shaikh, Chief Executive Officer & Head of Coverage at Standard Chartered Pakistan, said that through this Standard Chartered and IFC extended partnership, the Bank further cements its longstanding strategic relationship with IFC. With a presence in 53 markets across Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, he said that Standard Chartered is uniquely positioned to facilitate global trade and enhance access to capital for its clients.
Shaikh further added that the enhanced facility would better equip the bank to support corporate growth ambitions by helping clients scale up their operations and unlock new opportunities in international markets.
Momina Aijazuddin, IFC’s Regional Head of Industry for the Financial Institutions Group responsible for the Middle East, Türkiye, Central Asia, Pakistan, and Afghanistan, termed the agreement a milestone in IFC’s continuous partnership with Standard Chartered.
She said that doubling the facility’s size underlines IFC’s commitment to the financing needs of export-oriented businesses-those which create jobs, drive economic activities, and contribute to the long-term financial resilience of Pakistan. She further added that this investment reflects IFC’s commitment to inclusive and sustainable development, especially in markets with constrained liquidity.
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The USD 400 million facility was formalized in September 2025, building upon an initial USD 200 million program launched in December 2022. This initiative will broaden access to trade finance, working-capital solutions, supply-chain financing, and sustainability-linked financial products through the combined expertise provided by IFC and Standard Chartered. Industry experts believe the partnership will go a long way in supporting the manufacturing and export sectors of Pakistan in a period when there is volatility in global demand and supply-chain pressures. It will also contribute to greater economic stability by improving the availability of trade-linked funding across key industries.
