PM Shehbaz directs early roadmap for Private Equity Fund to boost investment

Islamabad (Web Desk): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday directed the concerned authorities to expedite the preparation of a comprehensive roadmap for launching a Private Equity Fund to encourage investment in Pakistan and improve access to financing for small and medium-sized enterprises.

While presiding over a meeting on enhancing private investment and ensuring long-term economic stability, the prime minister also directed officials to develop a detailed framework for strengthening the country’s public equity market alongside private equity funds.

PM Shehbaz said that these initiatives would increase the availability of investment capital and create a more attractive environment for foreign investors.

Highlighting the importance of private-sector participation, he said that sustainable economic progress depends on greater private investment.

The prime minister remarked that private equity funds have the potential to stimulate business activity, support the expansion of enterprises and generate employment opportunities across the country.

According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office Media Wing, the meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Minister of State for Finance Bilal Azhar Kayani, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Haroon Akhtar, along with senior representatives of the relevant institutions.

During the discussion, the prime minister identified minerals, agriculture, livestock, energy and information technology among the sectors with the greatest potential to drive Pakistan’s future economic growth.

He noted that a well-developed public equity market could play a vital role in channeling investment towards these high-growth industries.

Pointing out that lending from the banking sector remains limited, the premier emphasized the need to expand alternative financing and investment avenues.

PM Shehbaz reiterated that the government’s economic agenda is focused on building a resilient economy through increased private-sector investment, stronger industrial development and higher exports.