With ongoing political turmoil, foreign banks may have all but packed up and left Pakistan, but the financial sector has barely noticed. Indeed, assets and deposits have doubled between the end of 2008 and June 2014, while Islamic banking has begun to make its impact felt.
Asia-Pacific
Latest articles from Pakistan
Pakistan's microfinance industry identifies growth path
October 1, 2014Pakistan's microfinance industry has slowly been gaining traction in recent years, and is in for a huge boost when new biometric identification methods are brought into the mainstream – primarily to help combat terrorism – which will allow banks to verify new customers remotely.
Giving Pakistan's privatisation drive a push
October 1, 2014Having had a long and successful career in the commercial sector, Mohammad Zubair, Pakistan's privatisation minister, understands the importance of the country's privatisation drive. But, not everybody shares his enthusiasm, with the heavily unionised companies putting up resistance to the privatisation plans, and foreign investors wary of the country's less-than-perfect track record in denationalisation deals.
A glimmer of hope for Pakistan's economy
October 1, 2014Dogged by a history of political instability, Pakistan has struggled to secure trading partners or attract much in the way of foreign investment, at the expense of its economy. However, a new pro-business government and a revival in GDP growth suggest that the country's economic fortunes might finally be on the up.
Banks to watch in 2013, Tameer Bank
February 1, 2013The Banker has identified 13 banks to keep an eye on in the coming year based on a variety of factors. Pakistan-based Tameer Bank has been selected for its mobile banking service, which is one of the first successful mobile banking schemes to employ a bank-led, commercially driven model.
Profit performance masks the challenges faced by Pakistan's banks
August 1, 2011Although Pakistan tops The Banker’s Top 1000 World Banks profit rankings, the country’s banking sector faces a number of difficulties as it copes with a challenging economic environment.
The remarkable resilience of Pakistan's banks
July 28, 2010Despite an extremely challenging fiscal, political and security environment, Pakistan's banks have remained remarkably resilient. But high interest rates, low economic activity and a bruised consumer portfolio continue to suppress loan growth. Writer Michelle Price
A complex predicament
June 2, 2008With a growing financial industry and a host of new sectors set to develop, will Pakistan hold its own amid market slowdown and troubled domestic politics? Karina Robinson reports from Karachi.
Bold governor strives for new frontiers
June 2, 2008Shamsad Akhtar, governor of the State Bank of Pakistan, has an ambitious vision for the bank to have a greater say in economic policy, she tells Karina Robinson.
A new paradigm
September 3, 2007Pakistan is implementing a new development paradigm for the country’s banking sector with the aim of bringing the country’s poor and rural population into the system, writes Dr Shamshad Akhtar.