ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has increased the financing envelope under its Enhanced Export Finance Scheme (EFS) to Rs1.5 trillion for the financial year 2026-27, from Rs1 trillion previously, as the government seeks to expand access to affordable credit and strengthen the competitiveness of exporters.
The Export-Import Bank of Pakistan (Pak EXIM), the country’s export credit agency, said the expanded financing would improve access to working capital for exporters, with Rs300 billion specifically earmarked for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), agricultural SMEs and new borrowers.
The South Asian country has introduced significant measures to facilitate Pakistani exporters by expanding access to affordable short- and long-term export financing to promote export-led economic growth and enhance the country’s export competitiveness.
As the country’s Export Credit Agency and a policy institution, the Export-Import Bank of Pakistan (Pak EXIM) is supporting the Government’s efforts by managing key export financing schemes aimed at addressing the financing needs of exporters and strengthening Pakistan’s export capacity.
At the directives of the Prime Minister, a significant amount of Rs300 billion has been specifically earmarked for SME exporters, Agri-SMEs and New Borrowers, with the objective of broadening access to export finance for businesses that traditionally had limited access to the scheme.
The enhanced allocation is expected to provide greater access to financing across the export sector, particularly enabling SMEs, new entrants and emerging exporters to participate more effectively in Pakistan’s export economy.
The enhanced EFS limits have been allocated to participating financial institutions (PFIs) and are currently available for eligible exporters.
Long-Term Export Growth Financing Facility (LTEGFF)
The Government has also introduced the Long-Term Export Growth Financing Facility (LTEGFF), with PKR 350 billion in financing lines allocated to support long-term investment and export capacity building.
The facility will facilitate exporters in undertaking investments in new plant and machinery, including locally manufactured and imported equipment, as well as balancing, modernisation, and replacement (BMR) of existing projects.
The facility will also support investments aligned with Pakistan’s transition towards a greener and more sustainable economy, helping exporters strengthen their environmental and sustainability standards and enhance their competitiveness in international markets, including markets where ESG and environmental compliance are increasingly important.
Pak EXIM’s role in supporting export-led growth through the management of these national-level strategic export financing schemes, EFS and LTEGFF, Pak EXIM is working in close coordination with the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) to support the Government of Pakistan’s vision of export-led growth by expanding access to both working-capital and long-term investment financing for the country’s exporters.
These initiatives are designed to strengthen the capacity of Pakistani businesses, encourage new exporters and SME participation, facilitate investment and modernisation, and ultimately contribute towards diversification, competitiveness and sustainable growth of Pakistan’s exports.
To further facilitate seamless access and efficient management of export finance, Pak EXIM has developed its EFS Digital Portal, digitally connecting Pak EXIM with PFIs across the country, with DFIs also being onboarded.
The portal enables seamless, end-to-end digital interaction and processing between Pak EXIM and PFIs, enhancing efficiency, transparency and uninterrupted service delivery.
