$1b financing wins two IFN awards

FinMin says recognition reflects improved credibility, access to Islamic funding

ISLAMABAD:

The Ministry of Finance on Tuesday welcomed the announcement of the IFN Deals of the Year Awards 2025, under which Pakistan's $1 billion syndicated financing has received two major international honours, highlighting renewed access to Shariah-compliant funding amid challenging global conditions.

According to an official statement, Pakistan was awarded the IFN Pakistan Deal of the Year 2025 and the IFN Syndicated Finance Deal of the Year 2025 by Islamic Finance News (IFN), recognising the successful execution and structuring of the transaction in the global Islamic finance market.

Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb said the awards reflected growing international confidence in Pakistan's economic management and its capacity to design innovative and Shariah-compliant financing solutions during a period of tight global liquidity. He described the recognition as an endorsement of government efforts to diversify funding sources, strengthen external buffers, and deepen engagement with Islamic capital markets. The minister said the $1 billion syndicated financing represented both a financial milestone and evidence of a more disciplined macroeconomic approach. He added that the transaction demonstrated improved credibility with international lenders following sustained efforts to stabilise the economy and manage external financing requirements.

Aurangzeb said the deal was completed through close coordination with development partners and financial institutions and acknowledged the role of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in facilitating the transaction. He also recognised the contribution of participating banks, legal advisers, and other stakeholders involved in structuring and closing the financing.

He noted that recognition by a leading global Islamic finance publication underscored Pakistan's commitment to expanding Shariah-compliant financial instruments.