IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, is the largest global development institution focused exclusively on the private sector in developing countries. We work with private enterprises in about 100 countries, using our capital and expertise to help eliminate extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity. We also provide advisory services (AS) to our clients around privatization/public-private partnership, trade and competitiveness, financial markets and cross cutting solutions.

Pakistan represents IFC’s second-largest exposure in the MENA region, with over $5.6 billion in cumulative investments committed to date. Our current investment exposure in Pakistan is about $917 million in 45 companies in sectors including infrastructure (energy, ports, and transport), financial markets, and general manufacturing and services.

IFC’s Advisory Services portfolio in Pakistan is also among the largest in the region, with 10 active mandates. These include supporting access to finance for, and building the capacity of, micro, small and medium enterprises, implementing business reforms to improve the investment climate, promoting corporate governance, advancing clean energy, and strengthening agri-supply chains.

To boost the critical contribution SMEs make to emerging market economies, IFC has also developed a world-class training program to improve the managerial skills of owners and managers. Business Edge® works with around 500 trainers and 65 training providers to train more than 200,000 individuals across 56 countries. The program has a strong positive impact on SME management, bankability, and performance, with 94 percent of owners and managers trained in Pakistan reporting a beneficial impact on their businesses. Business Edge® diploma programs in leadership, entrepreneurship, and corporate grooming and development also offer Pakistani youth the skills they need to succeed in the global digital marketplace.