3 min read
Islamabad: At a seminar convened by InfraZamin Pakistan in partnership with the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP), the British High Commission and the Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG), finance and technology executives gathered to chart a digital roadmap for green financing via Pakistan’s debt capital markets. SECP Chairman Akif Saeed opened the discussions by unveiling the regulator’s new ISO 20022‑compliant bond‑issuance portal. By automating KYC/AML checks and moving approvals onto an e‑registry, the platform has already reduced processing times by nearly 40 percent, he noted, translating directly into lower transaction costs for sustainable‑infrastructure issuers.
Drawing on his global experience in credit enhancement, InfraZamin Board Chair Boo Hock Khoo described how the firm is pioneering smart‑contract guarantees on a permissioned blockchain network. “By embedding credit guarantees directly into self‑executing digital agreements,” he explained, “we create real‑time transparency around project milestones and payout triggers—boosting investor confidence and minimizing counterparty risk.” His comments set the stage for InfraZamin CEO Maheen Rahman’s presentation of the organization’s latest ventures: a PKR 2 billion Agri‑Infrastructure Sukuk launched with Unity Foods, and a micro‑infrastructure program empowering 30,000 women, both underpinned by machine‑readable ESG disclosures.
That drive for transparency was furthered by SECP Executive Director Khalida Habib and InfraZamin Director Claudine Lim, who showcased an open‑API suite now available to asset managers and fintech startups. The feed delivers standardized S1 and S2 ESG data directly into portfolio management systems, enabling automated scoring against global green‑bond taxonomies. “When investors can pull reliable, machine‑readable data at the click of a button,” Lim observed, “they are far more likely to allocate capital toward climate‑aligned instruments.”
Karandaaz Pakistan CEO Waqas ul Hasan highlighted the growing role of mobile‑first platforms in democratizing access to green finance. By integrating digital wallets, e‑signatures, and fractional‑bond modules, these apps allow retail investors to participate in infrastructure sukuk with as little as PKR 10,000. “Green finance is no longer a niche,” he asserted. “It’s a mainstream imperative—and digital inclusion is how we’ll bring mass-market Pakistan into the fold.”
British Development Director Jo Moir announced technical‑assistance grants aimed at helping local fintechs build climate‑risk modelling tools and align with international green‑bond standards. Meanwhile, PIDG’s Philip Skinner shared lessons from Acorn, East Africa’s first green bond, underscoring the importance of compliance dashboards and real‑time reporting to attract foreign capital.
As the seminar drew to a close, the consensus was clear: Pakistan’s green‑financing revolution hinges on marrying robust regulatory frameworks with cutting‑edge digital infrastructure. From blockchain‑enabled credit guarantees to API‑driven ESG transparency and mobile platforms for retail inclusion, the country is laying the technological foundations to mobilize billions in private capital for a more sustainable and resilient future.
