Karachi, October 15, 2025 — The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has officially launched “Zarkhez-e,” a new digital platform aimed at improving access to collateral-free agricultural loans for small and marginalized farmers across the country. Previously known as the National Subsistence Farmers Support Initiative (NSFSI), the program is part of the government’s broader Risk Coverage […]
KARACHI: Pakistan’s financial inclusion has made remarkable progress, rising from 47 percent in 2018 to 67 percent by June 2025, while the gender gap in financial access has narrowed from 47 percent to 30 percent over the same period, according to State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Governor Jameel Ahmad. Speaking at the ninth Annual Microfinance […]
KARACHI: Citi announced its role as Joint Sustainability Coordinator in supporting the Government of Pakistan on the launch of its Sovereign Sustainable Finance Framework, a landmark initiative designed to advance the country’s sustainability agenda and mobilize capital for impactful green and social projects. The Framework marks a significant milestone in Pakistan’s journey towards a more […]
Bank of Khyber ranked second with a total return of 108.2%. Other Pakistan-based lenders that appeared among the top 15 included National Bank of Pakistan, JS Bank Ltd., Askari Bank Ltd., and Habib Bank Ltd. This significant achievement places Bank of Khyber at the forefront of regional banking excellence, underscoring its strategic strength, operational efficiency, […]
KARACHI: Rehmat Ali Hasnie, President & CEO of National Bank of Pakistan (NBP), emphasised the crucial role of ecosystems and the financial and banking sector in driving national growth during the Pakistan Business Summit recently held in Peshawar. The summit, themed “Shaping What’s Next,” was organized under the patronage of the Governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa […]
KARACHI: United Bank Limited (UBL) has achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first Pakistani bank to cross Rs. 1 trillion in market capitalization on the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX), according to Topline Securities. This landmark reflects growing investor confidence in UBL’s turnaround strategy, consistent performance, and strong future outlook. Analysts attribute the bank’s earnings […]
KARACHI: The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has announced plans to shift all government payments to Raast, the country’s instant payment system, by the end of the ongoing fiscal year 2025-26. “We have plans that with the close of this fiscal year we will be having all government payments go to Raast. We are working […]
The Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) has approved Systems Limited’s acquisition of SAA Services (Pvt) Ltd from British American Tobacco International Holdings (UK) Ltd. The deal was assessed under Phase I of CCP’s merger review framework, as mandated by the Competition Act, 2010. Under the transaction, Systems Limited, a major Pakistani firm in software, BPO, […]
Bank Alfalah Limited, one of Pakistan’s leading commercial banks, and the National Clearing Company of Pakistan Limited (NCCPL) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to explore opportunities that will enhance commercial banks’ participation in Pakistan’s capital markets, increase liquidity, and help in broadening the investor base. Under the MoU, BAFL will evaluate multiple avenues, […]
Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) on Wednesday announced that the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) has approved its proposed acquisition of Telenor Pakistan BV and Orion Towers (Private) Limited. PTCL-Telenor merger: CCP to issue conditional approval “It is to notify that the CCP on October 1, 2025, has passed the Phase-II Order in relation to […]