Aurora Magazine

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The first Pakistan Banking Awards held in Karachi

Published 14 May, 2016 12:48pm
UBL wins the ‘Best Bank Award’; HBL and Tameer Bank receive two awards each.

The first Pakistan Banking Awards 2016 were held yesterday at the Mohatta Palace Museum, Karachi. Organised by The Dawn Media Group and The Institute of Bankers Pakistan (IBP) in collaboration with A.F. Ferguson & Co., the Awards honoured excellence and innovation in banking.

United Bank Limited won the ‘Best Bank’ Award; Tameer Micro Finance Bank Limited clinched two awards (in the ‘Bank The Unbanked’ and ‘Best Micro Finance Bank’ categories). Habib Bank Limited also received two awards – in the ‘Best Environmental Social and Governance’ and ‘Best Bank For Small Businesses & Agriculture’ categories.

The remaining awards went to Muslim Commercial Bank Limited (‘Best Bank For Corporate Finance & Capital Market Development’), Bank Alfalah Limited (‘Best Customer Franchise’) and Meezan Bank Limited (‘Best Islamic Bank’).

The awards were presented to the winners by Ashraf Mahmood Wathra, Governor, State Bank of Pakistan; Hussain Lawai, Chief Executive, IBP; Syed Muhammad Shabbar Zaidi, Senior Partner, A.F. Ferguson & Co.; Amber Haroon-Saigol, Chairman, The Dawn Media Group; and Hameed Haroon, CEO, The Dawn Media Group.

The Jury, led by Syed Salim Raza, former Governor, State Bank of Pakistan, included Azhar Hamid, former Banking Mohtasib Pakistan & former Country Head, SCB Pakistan; Fuad Azim Hashimi, President and CEO, Pakistan Institute of Corporate Governance; Nargis Ghaloo, Chairperson, State Life Insurance Corporation of Pakistan; and Shehzad Naqvi, former Regional Head, Citibank Middle East & Pakistan.

During his speech at the Awards, Mr Raza stressed that in order to improve the overall economy, banks in Pakistan should increase investment in the private sector, as public sector lending stands at 7,968 billion rupees (68%) compared to 3,685 billion rupees (32%) for the private sector.

The Ceremony was choreographed by Catwalk Productions, led by Frieha Altaf, and hosted by media personalities Zarrar Khuro and Razeshta Sethna.

The entertainment included musical performances by leading musicians from across Pakistan. They included Sultan Chane, Humaira Channa, Asad Abbas, Mohammed Hassan, Mai Dhai and Akhtar Chenal Zehri. Most of the performances included renderings of Sufi kalaam. The final performance was by the Sung Fakirs from Bhit Shah, who rendered Lal Meri Pat – an ode to the Sufi Saint Lal Shahbaz Qalandar.

Comments (3) Closed



Junaid Akram May 14, 2016 11:17pm
Truly a great night where the stars realy shined. A great initiative by Dawn alongwith A.F Furguson and IBP. All the winners were well deserved. I am quite certain that this initiative will be appreciated by the entire freternity.
sunny May 16, 2016 12:39pm
welcome, inspiring, dreamy and wicked smiles.
Ayaz dayo May 27, 2016 05:35pm
Although its unique tradion in the history of Banking sector in Pakistan,but meritorious grounds have since been deprived as the NBP is only a Bank,which delivers basic services to the downdrodden people of society like zakat musthqeen,pensioners,85%employees in a way to facilitate salsries and also salary loan to them up to one million,just easy process of Gold loan with lowest markup,being a govt:treasury work up to 100% in remote areas of the country,why such institution was out of way from the such genious jury including Syed Saleem Raza,ex Governor,SBP.