The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, on May 20 announced a loan of up to US$150 million to Pakistan's Habib Bank (HBL), as well as an equity investment of US$75 million (equivalent in Pakistan rupee), to support HBL's domestic and international growth, boost financial inclusion, especially for women and rural communities, and strengthen the country's private sector.

HBL, Pakistan's biggest commercial bank, has a footprint across the country that can be leveraged to expand financial inclusion and loan growth. IFC's investment is expected to help HBL launch programmes to increase the number of women depositors and lending to agricultural and rural borrowers.

"Our strong market presence enables us to be a key player in promoting financial inclusion and reaching out to critically underserved segments in Pakistan," said HBL president and CEO Nauman Dar. "IFC's engagement will support our growth in rural and agricultural financing, in reaching out to women depositors and women-run businesses, and help us deepen our business internationally."

Pakistan ranks fifth among financially excluded populations globally, with approximately 101 million people without access to financial services, in addition to high levels of income inequality. A significant number of its small and medium enterprises remain outside formal channels and face challenges accessing financing. Fewer than 7 percent have taken out a bank loan, and at least a third have no banking relationship at all.

"We partner with banks like HBL because they have the scale, outreach, and depth to transform financial inclusion and private sector development - the two pillars of our strategy in Pakistan," said Mouayed Makhlouf, IFC regional director for the Middle East and North Africa. "Scaling up financial inclusion is also a strategic priority for the World Bank Group to achieve universal financial access by 2020."

Pakistan represents IFC's second-largest exposure in the MENA region, with over US$5.6 billion in cumulative investments committed to date. IFC's current investment exposure in Pakistan is about US$1.1 billion in over 45 companies in sectors, including infrastructure (energy, ports, and transport), financial markets, and general manufacturing and services.