UK fund eyes expansion of investment footprint

The Express Tribune reported that British International Investment (BII) has set out a 2026-31 plan to deploy a minimum of $2 billion in Asia and Africa. South Asia is a major priority within that plan, and the fund has singled out Pakistan as a valuable destination for investment.

BII Managing Director and Asia head Srini Nagarajan presented these plans to Finance Minister Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb during a meeting on widening the fund's footprint and drawing in private money. Nagarajan said BII wants to grow its exposure in Pakistan considerably over the coming years. Its approach would pair its own investments with private capital in fields ranging from infrastructure and climate-focused finance to banking-type services, tech companies and private market deals, as set out in a statement released Thursday.

Aurangzeb welcomed the commitment and cited better macroeconomic stability, stronger investor confidence and the government's push for structural reforms, privatisation and private-sector growth. Nagarajan praised progress on capital market reforms and efforts to make entry and exit easier for investors. The delegation also looked at private equity, fund-of-funds vehicles and private credit as tools for deepening financial intermediation.