MSCI’ adds three Pakistani banks in Frontier Market Index
Morgan
Stanley Capital International (MSCI) Inc. has announced the inclusion of Askari Bank, Bank of Punjab, and Meezan Bank in its Frontier
Market (FM) Index as part of the November 2025 index review. The changes
will come into effect at the close of trading on November 24, 2025.
The MSCI Frontier Markets Index,
which tracks large- and mid-cap companies across developing frontier economies,
now features these three Pakistani banks among the largest new additions by
market capitalization, alongside Vietnam
Airlines and Bank Al Etihad.
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In parallel, 11 Pakistani firms have been added to the MSCI Frontier Markets Small Cap Index. The new entrants are AGP, Big Bird Foods, Gatron Industries, Ghani Chemical Industries, Ghani Global Holdings, International Packaging Films, Ittehad Chemicals, Javedan Corporation, Sitara Chemical Industries, SPEL Limited, and The Organic Meat Company Limited.
Meanwhile, Atlas Battery has been
removed from the Small Cap Index, while Bank of Punjab has been upgraded to the
main Frontier Market Index.
The update underscores Pakistan’s growing
presence in global equity benchmarks. Notably, in September 2021, MSCI downgraded
Pakistan from emerging market status due to concerns over market size and
liquidity, despite the country’s continued compliance with accessibility
criteria.
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The latest inclusions highlight renewed investor confidence and improving market dynamics within Pakistan’s financial sector.
Source: Profit Pakistan