Pakistan Back in Global Markets With Record Breaking $3bn Deal

Pakistan has raised $3 billion in a dual-tranche Eurobond sale, its largest single international bond transaction, the Ministry of Finance said Thursday.

The offering attracted nearly $6 billion in orders, almost double the amount issued. Demand came from broad, diverse institutional investors worldwide.

Strong demand reaches 10-year bond

Pakistan raised $1.75 billion through a 5.5-year Eurobond carrying a 7.5 percent coupon. It secured another $1.25 billion through a 10-year bond priced at 7.9 percent.

Demand remained strong across both maturities, particularly for the longer tranche. The ministry said this showed Pakistan could mobilise sizeable long-term financing as investors reassessed its macroeconomic and credit fundamentals.

“The competitive pricing across both maturities, together with strong demand extending to the 10-year tenor, demonstrates Pakistan’s ability to mobilise sizeable longer-term financing,” the ministry said.

Fitch assigned the bonds a B- rating with a Recovery Rating of RR4. S&P had raised Pakistan’s sovereign rating to B with a stable outlook in July, citing institutional stability and progress on IMF-backed reforms.

New GMTN programme widens market access

The sale marked a milestone in the government’s road-to-market strategy and became the first issuance under Pakistan’s renewed Global Medium-Term Note programme. It followed the country’s inaugural Panda Bond and successive improvements in its sovereign credit profile.

The ministry said the GMTN framework would support more diversified access to global capital markets. It stressed that the objective was “not simply to raise additional debt”, but to manage sovereign liabilities more actively.

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The strategy seeks to diversify funding, extend maturities and lower refinancing and rollover risks. It also aims to replace shorter and more expensive liabilities with longer-duration financing when economically beneficial.

Pakistan has already retired substantial domestic debt before maturity. The ministry said the government was now extending that approach to external financing.

“Borrow better. Extend maturities. Diversify funding. Reduce refinancing risk. Improve the sovereign debt profile,” it said.

Investors reinforce confidence in Pakistan

Successive rating upgrades and improved market access have reflected Pakistan’s economic progress during the past three years. The ministry called the order book, investors’ geographical diversity and 10-year demand a “powerful market-based signal of renewed confidence”.

“Now, global investors have reinforced that assessment with billions of dollars of actual capital,” it added.

However, the ministry said Pakistan still needed sustained fiscal discipline, structural reforms, export competitiveness, investment and productivity growth. It described the deal as a landmark in the shift from economic stabilisation towards sustainable growth. The Debt Management Office played a pivotal role in executing the transaction.

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Pakistan returned to the Eurobond market in April with an initial $500 million three-year issue. Stronger demand triggered a $250 million green-shoe option, raising the total to $750 million. The bond, carrying a 6.975 percent coupon, matures in April 2029.

Pakistan also repaid about $1.4 billion against a maturing Eurobond in April. That repayment helped re-establish a pricing benchmark after years of heavier reliance on multilateral, bilateral and commercial financing.

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