In a major step toward strengthening small business finance in Pakistan; Karandaaz Pakistan, Accelerate Prosperity (AP)- an AKDN initiative, and Parwaaz Financial Services Limited (PFSL) have entered a strategic partnership, with a particular focus on women-led enterprises, climate-tech start-ups, and innovation-driven ventures. Setting the tone at the event, Mr Akhtar Iqbal, CEO Aga Khan Foundation Pakistan, spoke about the growing need for innovative partnerships to support Pakistan’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. Introducing the collaboration between AP, Karandaaz, and PFSL, he noted, “Having deployed over USD 15 million across 500+ businesses in Central and South Asia through various instruments, AP is now deepening its engagement with the ecosystem — cultivating strategic partnerships, advancing innovative financing mechanisms, and enabling co-investment opportunities to maximise support for these businesses.”