Author name: Web Desk

Faysal Bank Limited (FBL) delivered a sound and resilient financial performance in the first quarter of 2026, reporting Profit Before Tax (PBT) of PKR 10.8 billion and net profit of PKR 5.2 billion, translating into Earnings Per Share (EPS) of PKR 3.40. The Bank also declared an interim cash dividend of PKR 1.5 per share (15%), reflecting confidence in its performance and outlook. FBL maintained a strong balance sheet footing, with total assets reaching PKR 1.7 trillion. The Bank remained focused on optimizing its deposit mix, with a strategic emphasis on core current accounts, driven by trade and transactional flows across its expanding customer base, leveraging its wide and growing branch network. The upward trajectory in Current Account (CA) continued, reaching PKR 614 billion, reflecting a 15% growth since December 2025. This led to a significant improvement in the CA mix to 46.2% (December 2025: 37.5%) and the CASA ratio to 85.5% (December 2025: 81.9%). The ADR moderated to 58.4% as at March 2026 (December 2025: 61.1%), while asset quality remained strong, with the infection ratio at 2.4%.Overall, the Bank’s performance underscores its strong business fundamentals, prudent risk management, and focused growth strategy, with increasing emphasis on digital and technology-led, customer-centric solutions. Mr. Mian Muhammad Younis, Chairman, Faysal Bank, reflecting on the Bank’s performance, said, “Alhamdulillah, the quarter ended March 2026 reflects the growing maturity and depth of Faysal Bank’s Islamic banking, network-led growth journey. The outcomes achieved are a direct result of the Board’s long-term strategic direction – focused on rapidly expanding the Bank’s network and steadily growing its low-cost core deposit base over the short and medium term. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to our customers, whose enduring trust and confidence remain central to our continued progress as a leading Shariah-compliance banking institution.” Mr. Yousaf Hussain, President & CEO, Faysal Bank, added, “Looking ahead, Insha’Allah, the Bank is well positioned to further build upon its strong product and expanded network foundations, supported through regional operational hubs and trade, driven by strong Islamic values, disciplined execution, and a continued focus on delivering value to all stakeholders.”

Karachi 24th April 2026: NBP has successfully onboarded Sheikh Zayed Hospital, Lahore for dynamic QR-based patient bill collections, marking another strong step in our ongoing digital payments drive. The arrangement was spearheaded by Mr. Farhan Durrani SVP/ Digital Banking Group, signed by Mr. Ali Sahibzada BM/ Sheikh Zayed Branch with the broader team joining from Lahore East Region; Mr. Farooq Chaudhary EVP/RE Liabilities – Lahore East and Mr. Haider Masood OGI/Coordinator Sh. Zayed Branch – NBP, for the formal agreement signing ceremony while Dr. Mona Aziz Gillani Executive Director was the signee from Sh. Zayed Hospital along with her support team. Through this deployment, patients will now be able to make instant, cashless payments via QR POS, significantly improving convenience while enabling the hospital to benefit from structured collections, reduced cash handling and better reconciliation. This milestone reflects the continued efforts of our teams and branch network in driving QR adoption across key institutions.

Arif Habib Limited has advised the State Bank of Pakistan to keep the policy rate unchanged at 10.5% in the upcoming April 2026 Monetary Policy Statement. The brokerage argues that recent inflation spikes are supply-driven and temporary, not signs of demand overheating. Read More: https://theboardroompk.com/kenya-rice-export-meeting-reap-members-discuss-export-hurdles-and-ways-to-enhance-trade/ Global oil volatility has been the main culprit. Arab Light surged to ~USD 135/bbl, then fell to ~USD 102/bbl, and briefly touched ~USD 77/bbl. This uncertainty has filtered into domestic transport inflation, which jumped 12% MoM in March and is expected to rise ~15% in April. Patience over impulse Yet broader inflation remains anchored. March CPI edged up to 7.3% YoY, keeping the FY26 average at a comfortable 5.67%. Core inflation is contained at 8%. Any move toward double digits in 4QFY26 is largely a base-effect story, not demand-led pressure. “Responding to such temporary pressures with policy tightening risks overcorrection,” the note warns. With GDP growing at 3.89% in 2QFY26 and 3Q expected to be weaker due to conflict spillovers, a rate hike could harm the fragile recovery. External buffers remain strong Pakistan posted a USD 1.07bn current account surplus in March 2026, the highest in a year. Remittances are robust, and the trade deficit has narrowed. Even with oil near USD 100/bbl, the FY26 current account deficit is projected at just ~USD 1.6bn. FX reserves stand at USD 15.1bn, excluding a fresh USD 1bn Saudi inflow. Saudi Arabia also provided USD 3bn in new deposits and extended a USD 5bn facility. A USD 1.2bn IMF tranche is pending, while Pakistan recently raised USD 750mn via a Eurobond. Market expects no change An AHL survey shows 61% expect no rate change, while 19% anticipate a 50bps hike. The firm concludes that patience is prudent, with the June policy alongside the federal budget offering a clearer recalibration window.

Karachi: In a world of trade tariffs, geopolitical tension and shifting regulation, some businesses have quietly stepped back from their sustainability commitments by deprioritising net zero targets, scaling back ESG programmes, and waiting for things to change. It may be the most expensive mistake they make. That was the central message from ACCA’s annual Sustainability Conference, held on Earth Day, a virtual event attended by finance professionals from over 100 countries. The argument put forward was not a moral one. It was a financial one: organisations that fail to embed sustainability into their core strategy are accumulating risk, and in many cases, that risk is already materialising. ‘Your sustainability strategy is not something that sits on the side,’ said Sharon Machado, Head of Sustainable Business at ACCA, who chaired the opening session. ‘It’s integrated within the business. It’s about risk management.’ ‘When businesses think about geopolitical disruption, supply chain fragility, commodity availability or the impact of extreme weather on operations, they are, whether they recognise it or not, thinking about sustainability. The language of risk management and the language of sustainable business describe the same terrain’, she said. Risk, finance and sustainability leader, Andrea Amaize, who joined Machado for the session, put it directly: ‘Though the business case for sustainability remains strong today, organisations that have toned down or deprioritised their sustainability commitments are trying to balance long-term sustainability objectives against pressures for near-term results. However, immediate impacts of sustainability are being felt. Climate change is already affecting the availability and cost of insurance, purchasing decisions increasingly include questions about decarbonisation strategies, access to lower cost capital is becoming tied to sustainability performance and talent follows purpose. A core argument of the session was that sustainability, properly understood, is not only a cost driver but also a profitability generator — unlocking new revenue streams, reducing operating costs, improving resilience, strengthening brand value and creating competitive advantage. Amaize noted that, in today’s environment, it is important for organisations to clearly demonstrate how sustainability drives measurable financial outcomes, an area where finance professionals can play a pivotal role in evidencing this link.