The Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD) hopes to advise on the mandate for Pakistan's $1 billion Islamic bond. ICD and Karachi-based Burj Bank, 33.9 per cent owned by ICD, have applied to be advisers on the sovereign deal, meeting Pakistan's finance ministry earlier this week. A ministry statement also said that it would review the applications starting next week. The ICD has further initiatives in the pipeline. Among others, ICD signed separate agreements to help develop Islamic leasing businesses in Malaysia and Uzbekistan, as well as extending $5 million in financing to support SME lending in the former soviet state.