LONDON, September 29, 2026: Pakistan and Standard Chartered Bank have discussed potential cooperation in international Sukuk, digital financing and capital market transactions as the government seeks to attract investment and secure financing for its economic and privatisation programmes.
Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb held talks with Standard Chartered Chief Executive Officer Bill Winters in London on Tuesday, focusing on Pakistan’s ongoing structural reforms, macroeconomic developments and future financial cooperation.
According to a statement issued by the Finance Division, the finance minister appreciated Standard Chartered’s continued support for Pakistan, particularly its involvement in financing arrangements and capital market transactions.
Pakistan explores international Sukuk and tokenisation
The discussions covered opportunities for cooperation in tokenisation, international Sukuk issuance and other financing arrangements.
Tokenisation involves representing financial assets or rights digitally, potentially opening new avenues for financial transactions and investment.
The two sides explored how such financing mechanisms could support Pakistan’s efforts to broaden its access to international capital markets.
No specific financing agreement or transaction amount was announced following the meeting.
Standard Chartered’s investor network could support Pakistan
Aurangzeb highlighted the potential role of Standard Chartered’s international investor network in Europe, the Middle East and Asia in strengthening Pakistan’s engagement with global financial markets.
He discussed opportunities for the bank to facilitate investor outreach and improve Pakistan’s visibility among international financial institutions and potential investors.
The meeting also reviewed Pakistan’s macroeconomic developments and the government’s ongoing structural reform programme.
Capital market opportunities linked to privatisation programme
Another focus of the meeting was the potential use of capital market transactions to support Pakistan’s privatisation programme.
The discussions included possible opportunities on both the buy-side and sell-side of transactions, indicating areas where Standard Chartered could potentially participate in or facilitate future deals.
The government has been exploring different financing and investment channels as part of its broader efforts to strengthen market access and attract private capital.
Adviser to the Prime Minister on Privatisation Muhammad Ali and Adviser to the Finance Minister Omer Khan also attended the meeting.
The Finance Division statement did not disclose a timeline for any proposed Sukuk issuance, tokenisation initiative or privatisation-related transaction.