Pakistan kicks off investor roadshow in China for inaugural panda bond

Pakistan kicks off investor roadshow in China for inaugural panda bond
This photo illustration shows a Chinese 100 yuan notes (red color) and US 100 note (C) in Beijing on January 14, 2020. (AFP/File)
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Updated 09 July 2025
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Pakistan kicks off investor roadshow in China for inaugural panda bond

Pakistan kicks off investor roadshow in China for inaugural panda bond
  • Pre-marketing meetings in Beijing draw strong investor interest in debut Panda Bond
  • Finance Ministry says move will help diversify funding through China’s onshore market

KARACHI: Pakistan has launched a series of investor meetings in Beijing this week as it prepares to issue its first-ever panda bond, the finance ministry said on Wednesday, marking a significant step in the country’s strategy to diversify its funding sources through China’s onshore capital market.

Representatives from the Pakistani ministry of finance are holding the non-deal investor roadshow (NDR) in China from July 7 to 11, 2025. The delegation has engaged in technical discussions with potential investors, underwriters, prospective guarantors, the Chinese Rating Agency, and Chinese legal counsel as part of the pre-marketing process for the debut issuance.

The investor meetings focus on Pakistan’s macroeconomic outlook, ongoing debt management reforms and the proposed bond’s structure. The initiative reflects Pakistan’s push to broaden its investor base and strengthen its credibility in international capital markets.

A panda bond is a Renminbi-denominated bond issued by a foreign government, multilateral institution, or company in China’s onshore bond market, allowing overseas issuers to raise funds from Chinese investors while diversifying their investor base and gaining access to China’s deep capital pool.

“The visit reflects the Government’s commitment to proactive investor engagement and diversification of funding sources through access to China’s onshore capital market,” the finance ministry said in a statement.

According to the ministry, the inaugural panda bond is expected to be launched later this year after the completion of documentation and regulatory approvals, including credit guarantees from multilateral development partners.

Officials said the roadshow has drawn strong initial interest, signalling investor confidence in Pakistan’s reform trajectory. The ministry described the move as a milestone that would help Pakistan tap China’s deep and diversified onshore bond market while using local currency instruments backed by multilateral partners.

“The successful NDR so far reflects the Government’s commitment to innovative and forward-looking financial diplomacy — and sends a clear message: Pakistan is ready to enter new capital frontiers with confidence and credibility,” the statement added.


Veteran politician, Pakistan ruling party senator Irfan Siddiqui passes away after illness

Veteran politician, Pakistan ruling party senator Irfan Siddiqui passes away after illness
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Veteran politician, Pakistan ruling party senator Irfan Siddiqui passes away after illness

Veteran politician, Pakistan ruling party senator Irfan Siddiqui passes away after illness
  • Siddiqui, a close aide of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, was the PML-N’s parliamentary leader in senate
  • Condolences pour in from President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Siddiqui’s colleagues

ISLAMABAD: Veteran politician and a prominent senator of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party, Irfan Siddiqui, passed away in Islamabad after a brief illness, state media reported on Tuesday. 

Siddiqui was undergoing treatment at an Islamabad hospital for the past two weeks during which health deteriorated, as per media reports. He was the PML-N’s parliamentary leader in the senate and was elected to the upper house of parliament from the general seat in Punjab in 2021.

A veteran parliamentarian, Siddiqui was considered a close aide of former prime minister and PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif. He was a columnist for Pakistan’s prominent Urdu-language newspaper, Daily Jang, for several years. 

“PML-N Senator Irfan Siddiqui has passed away in Islamabad after a brief illness,” state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported. 

President Asif Ali Zardari expressed sorrow over Siddiqui’s passing in a statement, expressing his condolences to the deceased senator’s family. 

“Extending his sympathy to the bereaved family, the president said that the late senator rendered immense services for the cause of democracy in Pakistan,” a statement from the official residence of the president said. 

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif described Siddiqui as an “important member of the PML-N,” according to Radio Pakistan. 

“Irfan Siddiqui’s services to the party will always be remembered,” Radio Pakistan said, quoting the prime minister. 

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