Consortium Led by The Bank of Punjab Closes Historic Islamic Syndicated Facility for Local Tech Manufacturing Expansion

A major banking consortium, managed by The Bank of Punjab alongside InfraZamin Pakistan Limited, has officially declared the successful financial close of a four point seven six billion rupee Islamic Syndicated Term Finance Facility. This structured ten-year financial solution is designated for Air Link Communication Limited and its wholly owned subsidiary, Select Technologies Limited. The specialized financing syndicate features Askari Bank Limited, The Bank of Punjab, BankIslami Pakistan Limited, and Pak China Investment Company Limited serving collectively as the Mandated Lead Advisors and Arrangers. To secure the extended operational tenor, InfraZamin Pakistan Limited has extended a robust credit guarantee amounting to three point seven five billion rupees, facilitating long-term capital mobilization for strategic private sector development.

The newly secured credit facility will directly bankroll the establishment and expansion of state-of-the-art manufacturing infrastructure situated at the Sundar Green Special Economic Zone. By scaling up the localized assembly of smartphones, household consumer electronics, and modern home appliances, the initiative directly advances the national industrialization and import substitution agenda. Operational roles within the transaction were distributed systematically, with The Bank of Punjab assuming the multi-layered responsibilities of Intercreditor Agent, Investment Agent, Security Agent, Account Bank, and Shariah Advisor. The credit enhancement provided through the guarantor optimize the transaction’s credit profile, enabling participating financial institutions to deliver structured pricing over an unprecedented decade-long period.

Beyond immediate industrial production benefits, the project layout incorporates progressive environmental and socio-economic targets to foster sustainable national growth. The industrial complex plans to integrate a one-megawatt solar power plant designed to curb carbon emissions by an estimated seven hundred tonnes annually, effectively lowering corporate utility bills while introducing a climate-friendly energy matrix. From a market standpoint, the expanded facilities are projected to produce over one million affordable smartphones on an annual basis, driving digital inclusion and expanding internet access across the country. Furthermore, the expansion is expected to generate roughly four hundred fifty direct employment opportunities within five years, with an intentional allocation of twenty-five to thirty percent of these new corporate positions reserved exclusively for women to enhance female participation in the industrial sector.

Air Link Communication Limited remains a dominant force in the domestic consumer appliance and digital technology arena, possessing deep expertise across retail network mapping, large-scale distribution, and electronics manufacturing. The corporation maintains strong commercial ties with world-class international hardware brands, working as an authorized distributor and partner for entities such as Samsung, Apple, Xiaomi, Techno, Itel, Acer, and iMiki. Its subsidiary, Select Technologies Limited, focuses heavily on localized mobile device engineering and recently achieved a successful Initial Public Offering on the national stock exchange. The manufacturing subsidiary currently partners with global giants Xiaomi and Hisense to produce advanced smartphones, smart LED televisions, and residential air conditioning units.

Executive leadership from all participating organizations expressed absolute confidence in the long-term economic outcomes of this collaborative milestone. Muzzaffar Hayat Piracha, Chief Executive Officer of Air Link Communication, highlighted that the ten-year facility acts as a vital fuel for driving local innovation under the ongoing national manufacturing agenda. Echoing this sentiment, Maheen Rahman, Chief Executive Officer of InfraZamin Pakistan, noted that the joint venture successfully blends commercial banking liquidity with developmental credit protections to stimulate export potential. Investment banking heads from The Bank of Punjab, Askari Bank, Pak China Investment Company, and BankIslami collectively concluded that the transaction establishes a sophisticated new benchmark for Shariah-compliant blended finance, demonstrating how innovative risk-sharing frameworks can securely unlock private capital for vital industrial investments.

Follow the PakBanker Whatsapp Channel for updates across Pakistan’s banking ecosystem.