KEY POINTS
- UAE’s International Holding Company acquires 100% stake in a major Pakistani bank for Rs 5 billion
- Adviser Khurram Schehzad calls the deal a “historic milestone” signalling renewed investor confidence
- IHC plans AI-driven transformation, modernising Pakistan’s financial sector
- Transaction aligns with IMF review, global rating upgrades, and ongoing economic reform momentum
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan achieved a landmark step in its economic reform drive as the UAE-based International Holding Company (IHC) acquired full ownership of a major Pakistani financial institution for Rs 5 billion.
Khurram Schehzad, Adviser to the Finance Minister on Economic and Financial Reforms, described the acquisition on X (formerly Twitter) as a “historic milestone” that sets strong momentum for the country’s reform agenda.
Schehzad highlighted that IHC, the Middle East’s largest listed company with a market capitalisation exceeding AED 880 billion (USD 240 billion) and over 1,300 subsidiaries globally, plans to transform the bank into a fully AI-driven commercial institution.
🇵🇰 Landmark Privatisation by One of the Largest Global Investors — Sets Momentum in Pakistan’s Reform Agenda
– Historic Milestone: Pakistan achieves its first strategic privatisation in years, marking a strong revival of economic reform and investor trust.
– Acquisition by IHC… pic.twitter.com/VrVMxbaVnB
— Khurram Schehzad (@kschehzad) October 19, 2025
The move is expected to modernise Pakistan’s financial sector through automation, digitalisation, and international best practices in risk and governance.
The Adviser noted that the acquisition forms part of IHC’s broader multi-billion-dollar investment plan in Pakistan, complementing existing stakes in mining and energy through its resource arm, International Resources Holding (IRH).
“This milestone sends a strong message to global markets — Pakistan is firmly on the path of reform, offering a stable, transparent, and opportunity-rich environment for long-term investors,” Schehzad wrote.
Observers said the transaction not only strengthens investor confidence but also demonstrates Pakistan’s ability to translate policy reforms into tangible private-sector-led opportunities.
The development follows high-level engagements in Washington, renewed interest from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, China, and the United States, as well as recent global rating upgrades and a successful IMF review, reinforcing Pakistan’s credentials as a credible destination for international capital.
