Offshore bonds

Published February 7, 2006

HONG KONG, Feb 6: Pakistan has invited bids from investment banks to arrange an offshore bond issue, its third foray into the international market since February 2004, banking sources said on Monday.

Pakistan sent out a request for proposals two weeks ago and had held a first round of meetings with the banks, one source said. The sources said Pakistan had given no indication of the size and maturity of the bonds, but bankers expected the government was seeking a dollar issue.

They gave no further details.

Pakistan, which had been under economic sanctions after conducting nuclear tests in mid-1998, returned to the international debt market in February 2004 with a $500 million, five-year eurobond issue.

In January 2005, the country sold a $600 million Islamic bond.

Pakistani officials have said the country does not need the cash but wants to develop a benchmark for international markets.—Reuters

Opinion

Editorial

Doctor attacked
09 Jun, 2026

Doctor attacked

AN act of reprehensible violence has shaken the medical community. On Saturday, an employee of the Provincial Civil...
AJK flare-up
Updated 09 Jun, 2026

AJK flare-up

The situation started deteriorating after a trader affiliated with the JAAC was reportedly shot in an altercation with law-enforcers.
Fault lines
09 Jun, 2026

Fault lines

THE April 8 ceasefire that halted hostilities between Israel and Iran has encountered its most serious test yet....
Soft on traders
08 Jun, 2026

Soft on traders

THE Fixed Tax Asaan Scheme for traders with an annual turnover of up to Rs200m has been designed as a ‘pragmatic...
Ceasefire in name
Updated 08 Jun, 2026

Ceasefire in name

Both sides accuse the other of violating the truce that was supposed to halt the conflict in April, yet neither appears willing to abandon negotiations altogether.
Damaged childhoods
08 Jun, 2026

Damaged childhoods

CHILD abuse is so prevalent that the UN ranked Pakistan as the least safe country for children. Even so, more than...