Citi has expanded its banking operations in Pakistan, with its country-specific balance sheet surpassing $1 billion as of June 30, 2026. The milestone reflects the bank’s continued financing activities across the Government of Pakistan, multinational corporations, financial institutions and large domestic businesses. According to Citi Head of Services Shahmir Khaliq, the bank continues to strengthen its presence in Pakistan by supporting trade finance, working capital requirements, capital market access and treasury solutions while investing in next-generation digital financial services.
Speaking during a recent visit to Pakistan, Khaliq said the balance sheet now exceeds $1 billion and includes both assets and liabilities. He explained that the asset side of the balance sheet comprises a broad financing portfolio managed for the bank’s institutional clients. Citi continues to provide funding facilities for imports, exports, working capital requirements and long-term financing while supporting clients across multiple sectors of Pakistan’s economy.
Globally, Citi facilitates nearly $1 trillion in financing each year through trade finance, import and export financing, export credit agency programmes and development finance institution-backed transactions. According to the bank, Pakistan remains part of this broader international financing strategy. Citi works with multinational companies, financial institutions and government entities by providing financing lines and supporting both import and export activities. The bank stated that its objective is to continue helping clients access capital and manage their financial operations regardless of changing economic conditions.
Pakistan remains one of Citi’s longstanding international markets, with the bank maintaining operations in the country since 1961. Khaliq described Pakistan as an important market within Citi’s global network spanning approximately 90 countries. He noted that the bank serves a diverse client base including multinational corporations, major Pakistani companies, commercial banks, broker dealers, the Government of Pakistan and the State Bank of Pakistan.
Beyond financing, Citi provides a broad range of institutional banking services that include treasury management, capital market advisory, liquidity management and foreign exchange hedging. According to the bank, these services are designed to help clients manage cross-border transactions, optimise liquidity and access international financial markets more efficiently. Khaliq noted that Pakistan has experienced several economic cycles over the decades, but Citi has maintained its long-term commitment to supporting its clients through both challenging and favourable market conditions.
The bank also confirmed that the Government of Pakistan has recently issued Requests for Proposals (RFPs) related to raising financing through international Eurobond and Sukuk issuances. Citi indicated that it intends to leverage its global banking network to assist the government in accessing international capital markets and attracting new sources of funding. The bank views these transactions as an opportunity to connect Pakistan with a wider pool of international investors through its global capital markets platform.
According to Khaliq, multinational corporations remain Citi’s primary business focus in Pakistan. The bank expects its business to expand alongside the growth of multinational companies operating in the country while also competing for new corporate banking relationships. He added that increased import activity generated by multinational businesses contributes directly to the bank’s financing portfolio and supports further growth of its balance sheet.
Citi also described Pakistan as a profitable market within its international operations, highlighting the importance of maintaining banking relationships with some of the country’s largest multinational corporations and financial institutions. The bank reaffirmed its commitment to continuing operations in Pakistan while pursuing future business growth through its institutional banking strategy.
Looking ahead, Citi believes digital technologies will continue reshaping global financial services. According to Khaliq, the future of banking will increasingly depend on real-time payments, artificial intelligence, blockchain technology and tokenisation. The bank is investing in these technologies to help institutional clients move funds more efficiently, improve cross-border payment capabilities and optimise liquidity management. As financial institutions accelerate digital transformation worldwide, Citi expects technology-driven banking services to become an increasingly important component of its operations in Pakistan and across its global network.
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