Pakistan seeks ADB's credit guarantee for yuan-denominated Panda bond issue
KARACHI: Pakistan has sought support of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for the issuance of its yuan-denominated Panda bond, the Pakistani finance ministry said on Thursday.
The statement came after Pakistan Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb's meeting with ADB President Masato Kanda in Washington D.C., wherein the two sides discussed their Country Partnership Strategy 2026-2030 and budgetary support.
Pakistan plans to launch yuan-denominated Panda bonds in June to enhance its presence in Chinese capital markets and raise approximately $200 million from Chinese investors, following upgrades in its sovereign ratings by major credit agencies.
Islamabad is being advised on the issuance of Panda bonds by the China International Capital Corporation, a partially state-owned financial services company. However, the latest figure shared in Jan. is lower than the $300 million targeted by Pakistan last year.
'The minister requested ADB's support for a partial credit guarantee for the issuance of Pakistan's Panda bond,' the Pakistani finance ministry said.
The development comes more than a week after global ratings agency Fitch upgraded Pakistan's foreign currency credit rating to 'B-' from 'CCC+', citing increased confidence in the country's progress on narrowing its budget deficits.
The upgrade also reflects confidence that the country would implement structural reforms, supporting its International Monetary Fund (IMF) program performance and funding availability, according to Fitch.
Pakistan's economy had been teetering on the brink of default ever since inflation rose to a record high in May 2023 and reserves started shrinking, but has seen some respite thanks in part to a $7 billion bailout program from the IMF.
Aurangzeb and the ADB president also discussed the Bank's Country Partnership Strategy 2026-2030 for Pakistan and agreed to fast-track the project's execution, according to the Pakistani finance ministry.
'He also expressed hope that budgetary support from ADB would materialize this year and assured the participation of Pakistan's delegation in the CAREC (Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation Program) meeting scheduled for November 2025,' it added.
Pakistan is a founding member of the ADB. Since 1966, the bank has committed over $52 billion in public and private sector loans, grants, and other forms of financing to promote inclusive economic growth in Pakistan and improve the country's infrastructure, energy and food security, transport networks, and social services.
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