On Friday, Meezan Bank Limited was recognized as the Best Bank of Pakistan for the second consecutive year at the ninth Pakistan Banking Awards.
The annual ceremony celebrates achievements in the banking sector and promotes broader financial inclusion for Pakistan’s 240 million residents. During the event, State Bank Governor Jameel Ahmed, the chief guest, expressed his satisfaction with the sector’s expansion despite challenges like limited market penetration and gender disparities.
Ahmed emphasized the critical role of banks in supporting Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to fuel economic growth, noting that SMEs currently account for less than one per cent of the national GDP.
He urged banks to rapidly adopt advanced technologies to keep pace with the evolving financial landscape. Ahmed commended the banks for their robust performance over the past year, significantly bolstering the economy.
Bank of Punjab and Bank Alfalah each received two awards. Ahmed highlighted the need for increased financial inclusion to enhance banking growth in his address. Awards were distributed across seven categories. Meezan Bank secured the prestigious “Best Bank Award” for the second year, while Bank Alfalah and Bank of Punjab each won two accolades.
Bank Alfalah received awards for ‘Best Bank for Digital Excellence’ and ‘Best Bank for Customer Engagement’. Bank of Punjab was honoured as the “Best Bank for Women’s Inclusion” and “Best Bank for Agriculture” for 2024.
Habib Bank Limited earned the title “Best Bank for SMEs,” Mobilink Microfinance Bank was named the “Best Micro Finance Bank.”
