BoP hosts Heart of Pakistan Investment Conference

The Bank of Punjab (BOP) hosted an Investment Conference at Ritz Carlton Hotel, DIFC, Dubai, on Saturday, November 20, 2021, wherein esteemed panelists and guest speakers spoke on topics of interest covering the investment climate and opportunities that Punjab has to offer to investors.

Punjab Finance Minister Makhdoom Hashim Jawan Bakht, inaugurated and attended the conference along with Consul General of Pakistan in Dubai Hassan Afzal Khan, Punjab Higher Education and Information Technology Minister Raja Yasir Humayun Sarfaraz and other high-ranking officials of the Government of Punjab (GoPb). Several prominent Pakistani corporate leaders and experts from leading international financial institutions were also present at the event.

The investment conference provided an excellent interactive platform for speakers and participants on potential investment opportunities in Punjab along with policy making suggestions. The event had various sessions during the day which covered key topics of interest by speakers and panelists.

Anees Khawaja, director and owner of Mahmood Group of Industries, presented Investment Landscape in Punjab, Pakistan, and opportunities for investment. Amjad A. Awan, CEO Punjab Public Private Partnership Authority, talked about Public Private Partnership regime in Punjab and recent developments along with incentives and legal safeguards for the private sector and success stories. Lasitha Perera, co-founder of The Development Guarantee Group, shared his thoughts on Green bonds and green financing routes for infrastructure projects in Pakistan and how Green Guarantee Company can help companies in Pakistan access global market for green bonds/financing.

Imran Amin, CEO, Rural Urban Development Authority, Punjab, talked about Real Estate Sector in Pakistan, recent initiatives and developmental activities by GoP and private investors and investment opportunities for potential investors. Muhammad Ejaz, CEO of Arif Habib Dolmen REIT Management Limited, Jamil Akbar, COO TPL Properties, Murad Ansari, director, EFG Hermes, discussed private sector investment and opportunities available for international investors in real estate sector of Pakistan in light of favorable policies announced by the GoP, and key challenges and outlook.

Faysal Aftab, CEO Zayn Capital, had a very engaging panel session with Faizan Aslam, CEO Bookme.pk, and Salman Sattar, CEO Bagallery.com, about investment climate in technology and startup ecosystem in Pakistan.

Kashif Raza, head of IBG Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank, UAE, and Mufti Irshad Ahmed Ejaz, Shariah Advisor Member of the AAOIFI Shariah Standard Committee, discussed and talked about role of Sukuks and syndications in infrastructure financing, structuring issues and challenges, and matching the expectations of issuers and investors. Farrukh H. Khan, MD of Pakistan Stock Exchange, talked about investment opportunities for overseas Pakistanis. Muhammad Saqib Sajjad, head of Fis and Correspondence Banking, BOP, conducted a very engaging panel discussion with experts from financial services industry which included Hind Chawky, head of Financial Markets, MENAP – SCB, Nadeem Saleh, regional head of Fis, Mashreq Bank, and Khawar Ansari, group head of Treasury and Fis, BOP. This session covered in detail the introduction to GOP securities, and opportunities and mechanisms to invest in PKR securities through SCRA and RDA Accounts.