Aurangzeb discusses Sukuk, Panda bonds with Standard Chartered
Pakistan's finance minister has discussed fresh Sukuk issuance, additional Panda bonds and possible tokenisation initiatives with Standard Chartered Bank, as the country explores instruments to ease external financing pressures and fund infrastructure.
Muhammad Aurangzeb raised the options in a meeting with the bank on the sidelines of the World Bank Group-IMF Annual Meetings 2026 in Bangkok, according to the Finance Division. The Governor of the State Bank of Pakistan accompanied him. Aurangzeb was cited as appreciating Standard Chartered's support in bridging Pakistan's external financing gaps and in facilitating the country's return to international capital markets.
The discussions covered prospective Sukuk, rupee-denominated and dollar-settled bonds, further Panda bonds and possible tokenisation initiatives, the Finance Division said. Participants also examined gold-backed liquidity arrangements and energy-price hedging, with an emphasis on simple structures and competitive costs.
Aurangzeb welcomed Standard Chartered's proposed additional deposit products for overseas Pakistanis and financing against rupee-denominated securities or cash. The meeting also looked at multilateral guarantees and export-credit financing for priority infrastructure projects, including power transmission, railways and roads, and covered reserve management and refinery upgrades. The minister welcomed follow-up proposals through the relevant ministries.
The Finance Division described the talks as focused on exploring financing instruments and investment arrangements to support Pakistan's external financing requirements and infrastructure development. No figures, timelines or commitments were disclosed.
