Pakistan
Macro and diversity: All hands on deck
As women participate in economies across Asia in larger numbers, investors must consider how this impacts their target markets. Gender-balanced portfolios will no longer be a nice-to-have
Pakistan ride hailing and courier app secures Series A
Bykea, a Pakistan-based online platform for on-demand transport and logistics, has raised a $5.7 million Series A round led by Sarmayacar, a European venture capital investor focused exclusively on Pakistan.
Gobi launches $20m Pakistan-focused fund
Gobi Partners has launched a $20 million fund with Fatima Ventures, the corporate VC arm of Pakistani conglomerate Fatima Group, to tap opportunities in the country.
China's Gobi Partners enters Pakistan
China’s Gobi Partners has made its first investment in Pakistan by leading a $1.5 million Series A round for online travel services start-up Sastaticket.
Ijara Capital acquires Pakistan's Quick Foods
Pakistan-based private equity firm Ijara Capital Partners has acquired a 100% stake in domestic frozen food company Quick Foods Industries for an undisclosed sum.
Alibaba buys Rocket-backed South Asia e-commerce business
Alibaba Group has acquired Daraz, an e-commerce platform incubated by Rocket Internet that is the market leader in Pakistan and has a presence in several other South Asian countries.
South Asia: Indian satellites
India’s economic dominance of South Asia has not translated into a firm leadership role for the region. Private equity strategies therefore vary widely across the country’s immediate geographic orbit
US-based VC to invest $20m in Pakistan technology fund
US-based 1839 Ventures has agreed to invest $20 million in a fund launched by the Pakistan government that will invest in domestic technology start-ups.
Abraaj invests in Pakistani cinema chain
The Abraaj Group has invested an undisclosed sum in Cinepax, with a view to helping the Pakistan-based cinema operator more than triple in size over the next four years.
Lakson Investments becomes Pakistan's first VC firm
Pakistan’s Lakson Investments claims to have been awarded the country’s first venture capital license with the launch of a new fund that will target domestic start-ups.
China’s first One Belt One Road project secures $1.4b facility
Pakistan’s Karot hydroelectric power project has secured a $1.4 billion facility from a group of Chinese investors and the International Finance Corporation (IFC). It is considered the first infrastructure deal under China’s One Belt One Road initiative.
Abraaj acquires Pakistan wind power company
The Abraaj Group has agreed to buy a majority stake in Pakistani wind farm operator Jhimpir Power from energy sector investor Burj Capital.
Pakistan PE: Maturing morale
Private equity and venture capital investment activity in Pakistan remains sparse, but early movers are beginning to cut deals with a new sense of confidence as geopolitical and economic issues simmer down
Abraaj invests in Pakistani diagnostics business
The Abraaj Group has invested an undisclosed sum in Islamabad Diagnostics Centre (IDC), an affordable health diagnostics provider with 20 facilities in Pakistan.
Abraaj to exit Pakistani utility to Shanghai Electric for $1.77b
The Abraaj Group has agreed to sell a 66.4% stake in Pakistani utility K-Electric to Shanghai Electric Power (SEP), a subsidiary of China's State Power Investment Corporation, for $1.77 billion.
Rocket-backed frontier markets e-commerce platforms to merge
Two Asian frontier markets e-commerce platforms created by Rocket Internet – Daraz and Kaymu – have agreed to merge.
IFC to support Abraaj's $200m Pakistan fund
The International Finance Corporation (IFC) has proposed investing up to $20 million in a Pakistan-focused fund being raised by The Abraaj Group. The vehicle has an overall target of $200 million.
CDC commits $10m to South Asia impact investor
The DFID Impact Fund, a social impact investment vehicle managed by UK-based development finance institution CDC, has made its first investment in South Asia, committing $10 million to the Insitor Impact Asia Fund.
Deal focus: CDC backs frontier e-commerce strategy
Daraz gets $55 million to build out its online retail marketplace in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Myanmar
CDC invests $55m in Asia frontier markets online retailer
CDC Group, the UK development finance institution, has invested EUR50 million ($55 million) in Daraz, an online retailer operating in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Myanmar.
Rocket Internet buys up Asia food delivery platforms
Online food delivery provider Foodpanda has acquired peers in seven Asian markets and become part of a global platform created by its parent, Rocket Internet.
Pakistan online marketplace gets $3.5m from VCs
Pakistan online marketplace PakWheels.com has raised $3.5 million in funding from Malaysia-based venture capital fund Frontier Digital Ventures.
ADB to invest $245m in Pakistan’s power sector
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) will invest $245 million to improve Pakistan’s power distribution systems. The capital, structured as a loan, is the third tranche of the bank's Power Distribution Enhancement Investment Program.
Abraaj teams up with USAID to launch $100m Pakistan PE funds
The US Agency for International Development (USAID), The Abraaj Group and JS Private Equity Management (JSPE) will launch two private equity funds focused on Pakistani small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).