Pakistan has approved a $582 million investment in the New Development Bank (NDB), marking a major step in its economic engagement with BRICS. The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) also sanctioned multiple strategic projects, including a joint trading company with Azerbaijan and billions in development funds. By leveraging the BRICS Bridge, Pakistan aims to expand its global economic influence—but will this bold move yield long-term gains?
BRICS bridge – Pakistan has placed a high-stakes bet on its economic future by approving a $582 million investment in the New Development Bank (NDB), the financial arm of BRICS. The purchase, sanctioned by the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC), includes $116 million in paid-in capital, marking a significant step in Pakistan’s expanding economic engagement with the rising global bloc. Established in 2015, the NDB is designed to fund infrastructure and sustainable development projects in emerging economies, and Pakistan’s participation aligns with its ongoing efforts to integrate further into BRICS, a bloc it has sought to formally join.
Beyond this financial commitment, the ECC’s February 14, 2025, meeting greenlit several strategic initiatives. Notably, it approved the formation of an International Joint Trading Company in Singapore, a collaboration between Pakistan State Oil (PSO) and Azerbaijan’s SOCAR, aimed at strengthening energy trade. The committee also sanctioned Rs19.15 billion for 133 development projects under the Pakistan Public Works Department, Rs5.36 billion for the Ministry of Housing and Works, and Rs500 million for procuring life-saving medicines and vaccines.
This series of approvals underscores Pakistan’s broader ambition to diversify its economic partnerships and expand its financial footprint on the global stage. By securing a stake in the NDB and leveraging the BRICS Bridge, Pakistan is deepening its economic ties with the bloc, unlocking new trade and investment avenues. As BRICS continues to reshape global financial structures, Pakistan’s move could be a defining moment—but will this gamble pay off in the long run?