Pakistan has received international recognition for its first sustainable sovereign bond issued in China’s domestic market. The country was given the Pioneer Sustainable Sovereign Panda Bond Issuer Award at the 2026 Asia-Pacific Climate Bonds Awards.
Adviser to the Finance Minister Khurram Schehzad shared the news. He noted that the three-year bond, launched in May 2026, raised 1.75 billion Chinese yuan. It carried a fixed interest rate of 2.5 percent and drew investor orders more than five times larger than the amount offered.
The bond marked Pakistan’s first entry into China’s onshore capital market. Support from the Asian Development Bank and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank helped the deal succeed and attract institutional buyers. Funds from the issue will support environmentally friendly and socially useful projects in water, energy and health.
Officials say the strong response opens a new source of financing for Pakistan and deepens financial links with China. The bond forms part of a larger approved programme that allows further issues in the same market. The award is seen as confirmation of growing investor confidence in Pakistan’s efforts to raise money for sustainable development.