Standard Chartered is by far the most cost-efficient bank in Pakistan. But should this be celebrated?
While the bank has become cost-effective, it has come at the cost of stagnant growth in deposit mobilisation
Pakistani banks don’t lend to the private sector. For good reason
Banks are at a loss at how to deal with bad faith actors defaulting away – along with a sloth like judiciary that allows them to get away
What the SECP’s new NBFC regulations mean for the industry
The regulator is seeking to add more teeth to the enforcement mechanism both for companies that offer consumers investment and insurance options as well as consumer access to credit.
The Miracle Man at the Bank of Punjab
Zafar Masud survived a plane crash, and the bank he leads barely survived the 2008 financial crisis. Now, he wants to make Pakistan’s largest provincial government-owned bank one of the country’s Big Five banks. Can he pull it off?
Why does Pakistan fail to overcome the vicious cycle of circular debt?
The federal government and the independent power producer have apparently locked horns over the government’s payment plan as independent power producers (IPPs) have reportedly rejected payment plan offered by the federal government and demanded at least 50pc upfront cash payments before signing the formal agreements for tariff discounts
Why are advertisers in Pakistan ignoring the 2023 Cricket World Cup?
A cocktail of bad ratings and poor athletic performance is a recipe for disaster, coupled with distribution confusion and a consortium that appears to disregard Kantar-MediaLogic data
Are Pakistanis willing to rent their shaadi clothes?
The first circular fashion startups are here. But will the market take the bait?
Habib Metropolitan: the proudly old-fashioned bank
Habib Metropolitan Bank has one of the fastest growing deposit bases among middle market banks in Pakistan, a branch network that has...
Ismail Industries to invest in packaging
The successful conglomerate is creating a Rs1.5 billion PVC plant.
Pakistan’s circular debt strategy unfolds through unprecedented banking alliance
Government's new plan is built on the foundation of compliance from commercial banks
Will the India-model work for Pakistan’s EdTech startups?
Profit investigates if, despite very similar market conditions, replicating a Byju’s like model is a foregone conclusion for Pakistani EdTech startups?
The Careem playbook, decoded
And what it can tell about the future of other mass-market, consumer-facing technology businesses in Pakistan
Business vs Ethics: The colour of corruption
This is the story of dodgy payments and shady business practices involving some of the largest, most powerful companies in Pakistan. At...
No, Pakistan does not have the lowest unemployment rate in South Asia
PBS just published updated data and estimated Pakistan’s unemployment rate at 6.3%. This is in contrast to recent headlines, where Pakistan was lauded for achieving the lowest unemployment rate - at 4.3% - in the South Asian region. So, why the difference?
How much money can you make as an emerging musician in Pakistan?
The short answer: not much. The industry is struggling with issues like lack of royalties, cumbersome concerts, and potentially exploitative brands. But hey, at least Spotify Pakistan might finally happen