The World Bank intends to assist Pakistan in drawing private investment into startups and innovative firms through a proposed $50 million fund that would broaden venture-capital access.
The Pakistan Entrepreneurship and Private Investment Catalyst Project is set for consideration by the World Bank's Executive Board in early 2027.
Project documents state the scheme would help the government set up and fund a Fund of Funds that would place capital into professionally managed venture-capital funds, which in turn would finance early-stage and growth-stage high-growth companies in Pakistan.
Fund Aims to Attract Private Investors
The suggested fund seeks to draw more domestic and foreign private investors into Pakistan's emerging venture-capital market. By channeling money through established fund managers, the effort hopes to tackle a long-standing lack of financing for startups and growth-oriented businesses.
The World Bank paper notes that better access to private capital could enable firms to expand, foster innovation and productivity, and generate more and higher-quality jobs over time.
The project would cover the entire nation, with no specific geographic focus identified at this concept stage, allowing the investment portfolio to reflect Pakistan's wider environmental and social context.
The initiative remains a proposal and is expected to be presented to the World Bank's Executive Board in early 2027.
