Pakistan’s leading digital microfinance bank, Mobilink Bank has signed a crucial partnership with HBL Zarai Services Limited to advance agricultural financing for underserved communities under the ‘Zarkhez-e’ Asaan Digital Zarai Qarza Scheme.

Under this partnership, Mobilink Bank will expand access to structured, in-kind agricultural financing for farmers across Pakistan. The Bank, in collaboration with HBL Zarai services, will link financing with essential agricultural inputs and services to help ensure that credit is utilized for productive purposes and contributes to improved farm-level outcomes. Moreover, it will strengthen the efficiency of the financing process through digital channels to enable more streamlined disbursements and transactions.

Whereas HBL Zarai, as an approved Agricultural Services Provider (ASP), will enable farmers to access high-quality agricultural inputs, ongoing agronomic advisory, mechanization services on a pay-per-use basis, and structured crop offtake solutions. This closed-loop model connects financing with input utilization and market access, enhancing transparency, minimizing inefficiencies, and strengthening farmers’ economic resilience.

Commenting on the occasion, Harris Mahmood Chaudhary, President and Chief Executive Officer, Mobilink Bank, said, “Mobilink Bank remains committed to expanding access to finance in a way that is both practical and meaningful. Through our collaboration with HBL Zarai, we are bringing a more integrated approach to agricultural financing by linking credit with inputs, advisory, and market access. This helps ensure that financing is used effectively, improves outcomes, and supports more sustainable and resilient livelihoods.”

Amer Aziz, Chief Executive Officer of HBL Zarai Services Limited, added, “This partnership with Mobilink Bank is a significant step toward strengthening the delivery of structured agricultural financing. By combining financial access with on ground agricultural services, we are ensuring that financing translates into real productivity, improved yields, and better market outcomes for farmers.”

Through this partnership, Mobilink Bank and HBL Zarai aim to enhance coordination, streamline service delivery, and scale in-kind agricultural financing across key agricultural regions. The initiative supports national priorities for sustainable agriculture, financial inclusion, and inclusive economic growth to help Pakistan’s agriculture sector reach its full potential.

In celebration of International Women’s Day, Fatima Fertilizer Company Limited has launched its “Sarsabz Tabeer: Seeds of Change” DVC, paying tribute to the extraordinary women who are shaping the future of agriculture in Pakistan.

The campaign recognizes the resilience, strength, and unwavering dedication of women working across the agricultural value chain; women whose contributions have long nourished communities and sustained the land despite social and economic challenges. Through powerful storytelling, “Seeds of Change” highlights the often-unseen role of rural women as farmers, entrepreneurs, caregivers, and agents of change driving agricultural progress.

At the heart of this initiative is Fatima Fertilizer’s flagship women empowerment programme, Sarsabz Tabeer, launched in 2022 to integrate rural women’s voices into Pakistan’s agricultural narrative. Built on four foundational pillars—education, financial aid, skill development, and health—the programme equips women with practical tools for financial independence and long-term resilience.

Through structured training sessions conducted by USAID-certified experts, more than 3,500 women across Pakistan have received food processing training to transform surplus farm produce into value-added, marketable products, reducing post-harvest losses and creating new income streams. The programme also provides interest-free loans to rural women entrepreneurs in collaborations with Akhuwat, enabling many to launch small scale businesses that supply products to hotels and restaurants or operate their own small retail outlets.

Additionally, the programme organizes healthcare camps in collaboration with Mukhtar A. Sheikh Hospital and the Punjab Government, offering free medical consultations and medicines to female farmers, their children, and their families. Such initiatives highlight how private-sector participation, when aligned with community needs, can contribute meaningfully to a more inclusive agricultural ecosystem.

Rabel Sadozai, Director Marketing & Sales at Fatima Fertilizer, said, “Women have always been the backbone of Pakistan’s agricultural economy, yet their contributions often remain unrecognized. Through the ‘Seeds of Change’ campaign and our Sarsabz Tabeer initiative, we aim to celebrate their resilience while creating meaningful opportunities that enable rural women to achieve financial independence and play a stronger role in shaping the future of agriculture. Empowering women is not only a social responsibility, but it is essential for sustainable agricultural growth and national prosperity.”

By highlighting real stories of empowerment, the “Seeds of Change” campaign reinforces Fatima Fertilizer’s commitment to inclusive agricultural development and female empowerment. The company continues to set a strong example for corporate Pakistan by fostering a culture that recognizes, values, and amplifies the indispensable role of women in strengthening the country’s agricultural ecosystem.

Karachi, Pakistan – 21st July 2025 – InfraZamin Pakistan, Sunridge Foods (Pvt.) Limited, and BankIslami marked a landmark moment at the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) with a ceremonial gong strike to launch Pakistan’s first fully subscribed PKR 2 billion Agri-Infrastructure Sukuk.

This Shariah-compliant Sukuk, is backed by a 100% principal credit guarantee from InfraZamin Pakistan and carries a long-term AAA rating, and fully subscribed by institutional investors. This represents a pioneering step towards sustainable financing via capital markets in the country’s agricultural sector.

The Sukuk issuance, led by BankIslami Pakistan Limited as the Mandated Lead Arranger and credit-enhanced by InfraZamin, has been assigned a AAA rating by VIS Credit Rating Company. The involvement of AKD Securities as Financial Advisor, Al-Hilal Shariah Advisors as Shariah Compliance Experts, and Pak Brunei Investment Company Limited as Investment Agent and Trustee ensures robust governance and protection of the interests of Sukuk holders under a Shariah-compliant framework.

The funds raised through the Sukuk will be utilized to advance Sunridge Foods’ Balancing, Modernization, and Replacement (BMR) projects, focused on upgrading production facilities with sustainable and energy-efficient technologies. Key components of the BMR include the installation of 1 MW wind turbines and a 0.5 MW solar power plant to bolster Sunridge’s renewable energy efforts, alongside the construction of new silos and warehouses to substantially expand agricultural produce storage capacity. Additionally, the proceeds will provide working capital support for Sunridge’s critical wheat and rice processing plants in Karachi and Lahore, facilitating increased production of essential staple food items.

Gracing the occasion as Chief Guest, Lance Domm, the Deputy British High Commissioner, lauded the initiative as a significant step towards climate-resilient and sustainable economic growth through capital market innovation. He stated “This Sukuk represents a significant step in expanding access to climate-friendly, Shariah-compliant finance in Pakistan’s agri-infrastructure sector. It reflects growing confidence in the country’s capital markets and the role of partnerships in mobilising private investment for development. The UK, through its support to InfraZamin and other financial institutions, remains committed to strengthening Pakistan’s financial ecosystem.”

Maheen Rahman, CEO of InfraZamin Pakistan, highlighted the strategic importance of the transaction, saying, “This ceremony reflects our commitment to facilitating sustainable financing solutions that empower Pakistan’s agriculture sector. By providing a principal credit guarantee, InfraZamin strengthens investor confidence and unlocks capital market access.”

Amir Shahzad, Chairman and Executive Director of Sunridge Foods, emphasized the operational and environmental benefits, stating, “At Sunridge Foods, we are proud to be part of this landmark issuance that channels Islamic finance towards strengthening Pakistan’s agri-infrastructure. This Sukuk enables us to modernize our production capabilities, invest in renewable energy, and significantly expand our storage and processing capacity for essential food staples. It is a testament to how purpose-driven partnerships can unlock sustainable growth in critical sectors like food and agriculture.”

Rizwan Ata, President & Chief Executive Officer of BankIslami, also commented, “We are pleased to play our role in the launch of Pakistan’s first Agri-Infrastructure Sukuk, marking a significant step forward in sustainable financing for the country. This transaction highlights the growing recognition of Shariah-compliant finance as a core tool for driving economic growth while supporting sustainable development.  BankIslami remains committed to providing innovative solutions that contribute to Pakistan’s long-term prosperity”.

The Chairperson of PSX, Dr Shamshad Akhtar, emphasized that Pakistan’s intersecting crises of climate vulnerability and food insecurity demand bold, homegrown solutions. She commended the launch of the Sunridge Agri-Infrastructure Sukuk as a defining example of how private sector leadership and financial innovation—especially within Islamic finance—can mobilize capital toward climate resilience and agricultural development. Initiatives like this, she noted, are not only responses to urgent challenges, but powerful catalysts for inclusive growth, food system transformation, and a sustainable future built on values, ingenuity, and collaboration.

The CEO of Pakistan Stock Exchange, Farrukh Subzwari reaffirmed PSX’s commitment to transforming the capital market into a platform for purposeful solutions—especially in addressing climate risk, food insecurity, and the structural gaps facing Pakistan’s economy. He highlighted that while initiatives like the Sunridge Agri-Infrastructure Sukuk mark a promising start, the journey ahead demands far deeper collaboration. Banks, fund managers, corporates, regulators like SECP, and institutional investors must work together to build the ecosystem for sustainable finance. He emphasized that PSX will continue to serve not just as a marketplace, but as a catalyst for innovation, inclusion, and resilience—where ideas translate into impact and capital is mobilized for national priorities.

This landmark event at PSX underscores the collective vision of all stakeholders to foster innovative, Shariah-compliant financing avenues that drive Pakistan’s sustainable infrastructure and agricultural development.