ISLAMABAD, Sept 23: An Asian Development Bank mission led by its director general private sector operations will be here from September 24-27 to finalize its Private Sector Strategy for Pakistan.

The ADB would hold seminars in Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi to disseminate its private sector development strategy and to highlight its ongoing initiatives to further develop the private sector in Pakistan. The ADB director general will also meet the government officials at federal and provincial levels, business groups and banks.

To date, the ADB has provided public sector financing of over $2 billion for the enhancement of an enabling environment for the private sector development. The ADB’s Capital Markets Development Programme for $255 million, approved in 1997, was aimed at augmenting the mobilization of long-term resources and improving the efficiency of their allocation through a diversified and competitive capital market.

Trade, Export Promotion and Industry Programme for $300 million, approved in 1999, had focused on providing support to the government for trade liberalization and modernization of trade policies.

SME Trade Enhancement Facility for $150m, approved in 2000, provides a political risk guarantee facility, an export finance facility in foreign currency and establishment of an export credit guarantee institution in the private sector. An SME Sector Development Programme for $164m is proposed for this year.