Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed authorities to quickly prepare a comprehensive roadmap for establishing a Private Equity Fund and strengthening Pakistan’s public equity market to attract domestic and foreign investment.
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday directed officials to urgently present a strategy for establishing a Private Equity Fund aimed at promoting investment, supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and ensuring sustainable economic growth.
Chairing a high-level meeting on private investment, the prime minister also instructed authorities to prepare a comprehensive roadmap for expanding Pakistan’s public equity market and private equity ecosystem. He said the initiative would improve access to investment capital and create a more attractive environment for foreign investors.
Shehbaz Sharif stressed that increasing private-sector investment is essential for Pakistan’s long-term economic development. He noted that private equity funds can play a vital role in expanding businesses, encouraging entrepreneurship, and creating employment opportunities.
The prime minister identified minerals, agriculture, livestock, energy, information technology (IT), and other productive sectors as key drivers of future economic growth, saying stronger capital markets could help channel investment into these industries.
He observed that investment from the banking sector remains limited, making alternative financing sources increasingly important. The government, he added, is prioritizing policies that strengthen the economy through private-sector-led investment, industrial growth, and higher exports.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Minister of State for Finance Bilal Azhar Kayani, Special Assistant Haroon Akhtar, and senior officials from relevant institutions attended the meeting.
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