Pakistan wins Global Award for sustainable Panda Bond

Pakistan has received the Pioneer Sustainable Sovereign Panda Bond Issuer Award at the 2026 APAC Climate Bonds Awards, according to Mettis Global. The honour recognises the country's inaugural CNY1.75 billion Sustainable Development Panda Bond, which was issued in May 2026. Khurram Schehzad, Advisor to the Finance Minister, publicised the recognition through a post on X.

The three-year instrument carried a 2.5 per cent coupon and drew demand more than five times its size. According to the report, the deal opens access to a fresh group of institutional investors, spreads sovereign funding across more sources and strengthens financial ties with China. The transaction was structured through the Government of Pakistan, AIIB, ADB, Chinese authorities, financial advisers, underwriters and market participants.

Funds from the issue are going into green and socially inclusive investments covering water, energy and health. Mettis Global described the award as a further step in the country's push to tap global capital markets, widen its investor base and raise money for sustainable development.