Pakistan can-maker to establish $110mn facility in Afghanistan

Pakistan Aluminium Beverage Cans Limited (PABC) has announced plans to set up a new $110 million beverage can manufacturing facility in Afghanistan.

The listed Pakistani can maker disclosed the development in its notice to the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) on Tuesday.

“The company had earlier, on 30 October 2025, disclosed the Board’s endorsement of plans to construct a new beverage can manufacturing facility in Afghanistan, with a capacity of 1.3 billion cans and an estimated capital outlay of approximately USD 110 million, subject to regulatory and customary approvals,” read the notice.

PABC said that the approvals represent continued steps under the company’s strategic roadmap.

The development comes as ties between Pakistan and Afghanistan have deteriorated in recent months. The relationship deteriorated after Islamabad demanded that the Afghan Taliban administration tackle militants who have stepped up attacks in Pakistan, saying they operate from havens in Afghanistan.

The neighbours have closed several crossings along their border in the aftermath of the fighting, halting trade.  

Earlier in October, PABC cautioned that the ongoing closure of Pak-Afghan border crossings could weigh on its sales performance, as disruptions to regional trade routes threaten to impact its business operations in Afghanistan and Central Asia.

Moreover, PABC’s Board of Directors have also approved the acquisition of 60% of the units of Alfalah Agri-Cultivation Fund – I, a private equity fund, from Liberty Mills Limited, an associate of PABC, for Rs621 million.

“The fund focuses on modern, mechanised, and sustainable corporate farming projects in Pakistan, with its investment in Terra Crop Innovations (Pvt) Ltd in the Cholistan Desert expected to enhance food security, promote agricultural exports, and support import substitution,” it said.

The company shared that the transaction is subject to customary procedures, and the board has authorised PABC’s representatives to take necessary actions to implement it.