{"id":87434,"date":"2026-09-29T07:46:44","date_gmt":"2026-09-29T07:46:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thediplomat.com.pk\/?p=87434"},"modified":"2026-09-30T07:52:43","modified_gmt":"2026-09-30T07:52:43","slug":"pm-shehbaz-opens-london-stock-exchange-trading-session-inaugurates-3bn-eurobond","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thediplomat.com.pk\/index.php\/2026\/09\/29\/pm-shehbaz-opens-london-stock-exchange-trading-session-inaugurates-3bn-eurobond\/","title":{"rendered":"PM Shehbaz opens London Stock Exchange trading session, inaugurates $3bn Eurobond"},"content":{"rendered":"<h6 style=\"text-align: center;\">Pakistan\u2019s first prime minister to open LSE session; highlights economic reforms, improved macroeconomic indicators and opportunities for international investment<\/h6>\n<p><strong>LONDON:<\/strong> Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday became the first Pakistani prime minister to open the trading session of the London Stock Exchange (LSE) and formally inaugurated Pakistan\u2019s landmark US$3 billion dual-tranche sovereign Eurobond.<\/p>\n<p>Addressing the ceremony at the LSE headquarters in Paternoster Square, the prime minister highlighted Pakistan\u2019s potential to attract foreign investment and said the government had worked extensively in recent years to strengthen the country\u2019s economy.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"PM Shehbaz opens London Stock Exchange trading session, inaugurates $3bn Eurobond\" width=\"696\" height=\"392\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/v3DOYLJEpzw?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cAs I speak, we have strengthened our macroeconomic indicators, which are very promising and augur very well for the future,\u201d he said.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>The prime minister said the successful Eurobond transaction reflected the efforts of the finance ministry and economic team, including structural reforms, digitisation of the economy and measures taken to place the national economy on a stronger footing.<\/p>\n<p>Pakistan raised US$3 billion through the dual-tranche Eurobond earlier this month, attracting nearly US$6 billion in orders from a broad and geographically diversified institutional investor base. The transaction comprised a 5.5-year tranche and a 10-year tranche and was described by the Ministry of Finance as Pakistan\u2019s largest-ever international capital-market transaction.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-87438\" src=\"https:\/\/thediplomat.com.pk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/HTZHyq7bcAAXlTx.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1200\" height=\"799\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thediplomat.com.pk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/HTZHyq7bcAAXlTx.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/thediplomat.com.pk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/HTZHyq7bcAAXlTx-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/thediplomat.com.pk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/HTZHyq7bcAAXlTx-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/thediplomat.com.pk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/HTZHyq7bcAAXlTx-768x511.jpg 768w, https:\/\/thediplomat.com.pk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/HTZHyq7bcAAXlTx-631x420.jpg 631w, https:\/\/thediplomat.com.pk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/HTZHyq7bcAAXlTx-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/thediplomat.com.pk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/HTZHyq7bcAAXlTx-696x463.jpg 696w, https:\/\/thediplomat.com.pk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/HTZHyq7bcAAXlTx-1068x711.jpg 1068w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/p>\n<blockquote><p>The prime minister also highlighted the government\u2019s privatisation programme, referring to the privatisation of Pakistan International Airlines and First Women Bank, and said the government was moving towards transferring other state-owned enterprises to private-sector management.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>He said Pakistan and the United Kingdom could work closely in the area of privatisation and investment, while inviting greater participation by international financial institutions and investors in Pakistan.<\/p>\n<p>Referring to recent regional developments, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Pakistan was managing the challenges posed by the Gulf crisis while also playing a role in promoting dialogue and peace in the region.<\/p>\n<p>He also commended Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb and other economic ministers, secretaries and government officials for their efforts in strengthening the country\u2019s economy.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-87439\" src=\"https:\/\/thediplomat.com.pk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/HTZI9qkasAEpXHX.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1200\" height=\"801\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thediplomat.com.pk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/HTZI9qkasAEpXHX.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/thediplomat.com.pk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/HTZI9qkasAEpXHX-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/thediplomat.com.pk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/HTZI9qkasAEpXHX-1024x684.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/thediplomat.com.pk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/HTZI9qkasAEpXHX-768x513.jpg 768w, https:\/\/thediplomat.com.pk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/HTZI9qkasAEpXHX-629x420.jpg 629w, https:\/\/thediplomat.com.pk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/HTZI9qkasAEpXHX-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/thediplomat.com.pk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/HTZI9qkasAEpXHX-696x465.jpg 696w, https:\/\/thediplomat.com.pk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/HTZI9qkasAEpXHX-1068x713.jpg 1068w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/p>\n<blockquote><p>Addressing London Stock Exchange Group Chief Executive Officer David Schwimmer, the prime minister said Pakistan would welcome his guidance on further engaging international financial markets, not only for sovereign financing but also for investment opportunities in the country.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>He described his participation in the LSE market-opening ceremony as a significant occasion and a step towards strengthening Pakistan\u2019s engagement with the London Stock Exchange.<\/p>\n<p>The prime minister also invited David Schwimmer to visit Pakistan.<\/p>\n<p>The ceremony was attended by LSE Group CEO David Schwimmer, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Privatisation Muhammad Ali, Pakistan High Commissioner to the UK Dr Mohammad Faisal, members of the Pakistani delegation and senior British officials.<\/p>\n<p>The visit highlighted Pakistan\u2019s renewed access to international capital markets. The US$3 billion Eurobond was the first issuance under Pakistan\u2019s renewed Global Medium-Term Note Programme and followed the country\u2019s inaugural Panda Bond and successive sovereign credit-rating upgrades.<\/p>\n<p>The transaction forms part of Pakistan\u2019s broader debt-management strategy to diversify financing sources, extend maturities and reduce refinancing and rollover risks.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-87440\" src=\"https:\/\/thediplomat.com.pk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/HTZJMBUa4AAVWwA.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thediplomat.com.pk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/HTZJMBUa4AAVWwA.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/thediplomat.com.pk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/HTZJMBUa4AAVWwA-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/thediplomat.com.pk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/HTZJMBUa4AAVWwA-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/thediplomat.com.pk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/HTZJMBUa4AAVWwA-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/thediplomat.com.pk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/HTZJMBUa4AAVWwA-630x420.jpg 630w, https:\/\/thediplomat.com.pk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/HTZJMBUa4AAVWwA-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/thediplomat.com.pk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/HTZJMBUa4AAVWwA-696x464.jpg 696w, https:\/\/thediplomat.com.pk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/HTZJMBUa4AAVWwA-1068x712.jpg 1068w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/p>\n<blockquote><p>Earlier, upon his arrival at the London Stock Exchange, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his delegation were received by David Schwimmer and senior officials of the London Stock Exchange Group.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Pakistan\u2019s first prime minister to open LSE session; highlights economic reforms, improved macroeconomic indicators and opportunities for international investment LONDON: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday became the first Pakistani prime minister to open the trading session of the London Stock Exchange (LSE) and formally inaugurated Pakistan\u2019s landmark US$3 billion dual-tranche sovereign Eurobond. Addressing [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":87437,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[22,25,73],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-87434","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-business","category-economy","category-united-kingdom"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thediplomat.com.pk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/87434","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thediplomat.com.pk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thediplomat.com.pk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thediplomat.com.pk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thediplomat.com.pk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=87434"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/thediplomat.com.pk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/87434\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":87441,"href":"https:\/\/thediplomat.com.pk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/87434\/revisions\/87441"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thediplomat.com.pk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/87437"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thediplomat.com.pk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=87434"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thediplomat.com.pk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=87434"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thediplomat.com.pk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=87434"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}