Banking sector grows by 11.5% in H1CY24

Deposits increased by 11.7 percent in H1CY24 with a major impetus from savings and current deposits
Bank of Khyber

Ikramullah Khan appointed as Chairman of Bank of Khyber

New Chairman will take over the role from Syed Imtiaz Hussain Shah

Visa aims for 10-fold rise in Pakistani use of digital payments

Strategy involves transforming phones into payment instruments and accepting various forms of payment, including QR and card tap

JS Bank approves establishment of currency exchange company and REIT investment

Board also confirms new director appointments, subject to regulatory approvals

Askari Currency Exchange receives license from SBP to commence operations 

Development follows the issuance of a certificate of incorporation by SECP on April 19, 2024

Bank Alfalah receives offer from Sri Lanka’s HNB for Bangladesh operations

Board approves initial offer, awaits regulatory approvals from Pakistan and Bangladesh central banks

SBP injects Rs966.5 billion into financial system through OMOs

Rs816.5 billion was injected through reverse repo OMO, Rs150 billion via Shariah-compliant Mudarabah-based OMO

Global banks revive tech spending, offering hope to Indian IT sector

Renewed investment in technology by major banks boosts outlook for India's $254 billion IT industry, particularly in BFSI sector.

Apna Bank proposes Rs. 7.5 billion capital increase and new share issuance

Board seeks shareholder and SECP approval for major financial expansion

Can the government finally seal the deal on the privatisation of FWBL?

Founded in 1989, the bank has been up for sale before. This time with the IMF watching, how will things be different?

Govt to issue debit cards for public sector enterprises to streamline cash management

Move aims to address petty cash issues, promote formal banking channels and shut down informal channels like Hawala and Hundi

Digital transactions account for 83% of total retail payments in Pakistan: SBP

Banks and EMIs processed 844 million retail payments amounting to PKR 128,470 billion during the quarter

Bank of Punjab approves expansion plan for Bahrain, UAE

The board gives go-ahead to establish a Wholesale Banking Unit in the Kingdom of Bahrain and a representative office in the United Arab Emirates

Govt considers blocking bank accounts of non-filers

Proposed changes include fixed sales tax on mobile imports and adjustments to advertising expense deductions

Changes to look out for in the banking sector for the next fiscal year

Banks to pay higher effective taxes as the government disallows provisions to be treated as expenses