Karachi, Pakistan — National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) has taken a pioneering step as the first conventional bank to introduce a co-badged debit card, blending the features and benefits of both PayPak and Mastercard networks. The official signing ceremony for the NBP PayPak Mastercard Debit Card Project was held recently, presided over by Mr. Rehmat […]
Bank Alfalah Secures Central Bank Approval for Potential Sale of Bangladesh Operations to Hatton National Bank
Islamabad: November 15, 2024 Bank Alfalah Limited (BAFL) has received in-principle approval from the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) and the Bangladesh Bank to allow Hatton National Bank PLC (HNB) of Sri Lanka to conduct due diligence on its operations in Bangladesh. This update was announced by BAFL in a notice to the Pakistan Stock […]
UAE-based Popcorn AI secures $500,000 pre-seed funding to Transform Conversational Commerce in the Middle East
Dubai, UAE – Popcorn AI, a leading innovator in conversational commerce, has raised $500,000 in a pre-seed funding round led by Spring Studios fund, with backing from Salica Investments, Al Waha Fund of Funds, and prominent angel investors from Saudi Arabia. This funding round marks a pivotal milestone in Popcorn AI’s journey to reshape how businesses connect, engage, and […]
Bank Alfalah Withdraws Offer to Buy Majority Stake in Samba Bank
In a recent development, Bank Alfalah Limited (BAFL), one of Pakistan’s leading commercial banks, has officially withdrawn its public announcement of intention (PAI) to acquire a majority stake in Samba Bank Limited. The decision follows the Saudi National Bank’s (SNB) termination of its plans to divest its approximately 84.51% stake in Samba Pakistan. BAFL had […]
Meezan Bank and CashNow Join Hands to Develop Pakistan’s First Digital Islamic Supply Chain Finance Product for Suppliers
Karachi, Pakistan, November 13, 2024 – Meezan Bank, Pakistan’s leading Islamic bank, has entered into a strategic alliance with CashNow, Pakistan’s pioneering supply chain finance platform, to revolutionize Shariah-compliant supply chain finance. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed at Meezan Bank’s Head Office in the presence of senior management from both organizations. This partnership, the first […]
Faysal Funds Partners with Pakistan Startup Summit to Empower Entrepreneurs
Islamabad, Pakistan – Faysal Funds, Pakistan’s first fully Shariah-compliant asset management company, took a significant step in supporting the nation’s startup ecosystem by participating in the Pakistan Startup Summit, an event powered by the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP). The summit provided a dynamic platform for entrepreneurs to connect with industry leaders and […]
Pakistani Startups Raise $32 million in First 4 Months of FY 2024-25
Pakistan’s burgeoning startup ecosystem is showing signs of recovery, attracting $32 million in investment from a range of sources during the first four months of the current financial year. According to Invest2Innovate, local startups secured $15 million in Q1 and another $17 million in October, marking a significant uptick in investor confidence. Three high-profile deals […]
Deputy Governor at SBP Urges Holistic Approach to Islamic Finance at ICIBF 2024
Karachi, Pakistan – Saleem Ullah, Deputy Governor of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), emphasized the need for Pakistan to fully adopt a comprehensive Islamic financial system beyond conventional banking alternatives. Speaking at the 8th International Conference on Islamic Banking and Finance (ICIBF 2024) hosted by the Institute of Business Management (IoBM) on Tuesday, he […]
NBP President Calls for Inclusive Financial Sector to Drive Pakistan’s Economic Growth
KARACHI: Rehmat Ali Hasnie, President of the National Bank of Pakistan (NBP), underscored the pivotal role of the financial sector in propelling Pakistan’s economic growth during his recent address at The Future Summit. He emphasized that the financial sector should be viewed not merely as a gateway to basic banking services, but as a fundamental […]
Banking Mohtasib Pakistan Amends Banking Companies Ordinance, Reduces Complaint Resolution Time
In a significant move to enhance customer service standards, the Banking Mohtasib Pakistan has amended the Banking Companies Ordinance, reducing the response time for banks to address customer complaints from 45 days to 30 days. The amendment, aimed at accelerating resolution times and improving the banking experience for customers, was published in the Extraordinary Gazette […]