Govt signs two export financing deals

The Express Tribune reported that Pak EXIM has signed a reinsurance partnership with the Islamic Corporation for the Insurance of Investment and Export Credit, while the Export Development Fund and Pak EXIM agreed an SME Risk Pool of about Rs3 billion. The reinsurance deal, signed by ICIEC chief executive Dr Khalid Khalafalla and Pak EXIM president Shahbaz Hussain Syed, is meant to bring international credit and political-risk expertise. The SME pool, signed by EDF chairman Omar Saeed and Syed, is designed to widen SMEs' access to insurance against non-payment risk.

Finance Minister Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb said the country is moving from stabilisation towards growth, pointing to economic expansion of 3.7% in FY26 and a fiscal deficit that narrowed to 2.6% of GDP, the lowest level in 22 years. He added that the country has posted primary surpluses in each of the last three years. Aurangzeb also said exporters can access financing at 4.5% despite policy rate movements.

Aurangzeb highlighted services gains, with information technology exports at roughly $4.6 billion and freelancer receipts near $1.7 billion. He said growth on the existing $30 billion goods export base alone would fall short, and urged an integrated ecosystem spanning exporters, commercial banks, EDF, Pak EXIM, the State Bank and the government.