The Pakistan Banks’ Association (PBA) has congratulated the banking sector on achieving historic performance, particularly recognizing the seven Pakistani banks that secured positions among the top 15 Asia-Pacific banks in 2025, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence. The PBA emphasized that this recognition is not only an institutional achievement but also a tangible benefit for ordinary investors, with over 1.5 billion shares at the Pakistan Stock Exchange directly impacted by the strong performance. CEO and Secretary General Muneer Kamal highlighted that the gains from this success are reaching the grassroots level of the capital market.
United Bank Limited (UBL) led the industry with the highest market capitalization, demonstrating that large-cap stability can coexist with exceptional returns. Public sector banks also delivered outstanding results, with the Bank of Punjab topping the Asia-Pacific ranking in total percentage return, followed by the National Bank of Pakistan and the Bank of Khyber. These results were cited as evidence of strong governance and strategic oversight by the government and the State Bank of Pakistan. Private banks also made notable strides, with Bank Makramah achieving a remarkable turnaround and Askari Bank expanding its shareholder base. In the Islamic banking sector, Faysal Bank set a new benchmark in returns, reinforcing the strength of Shariah-compliant financial models.
The PBA highlighted that strong banking performance has translated into real economic impact. In FY25, private sector credit grew by Rs. 1.1 trillion, compared to Rs. 470 billion in FY24, reflecting increased lending for both working capital and fixed investments. The sector also recorded a 57% increase in SME borrowers over two years, while agricultural lending rebounded to nearly 3 million borrowers with disbursements totaling a record PKR 2.58 trillion. These achievements were supported by digital innovations such as the ‘Zarkhez-e’ platform.
Addressing media misreports on private sector credit flows in the first half of FY26, the PBA clarified that private sector lending actually expanded by Rs. 654 billion, with the total loan book growing by 6.75% (July–December), despite significant government borrowing of Rs. 1.95 trillion. This demonstrates the banking sector’s ongoing role as a primary engine of economic support.
Looking ahead, the PBA reaffirmed its commitment to adding value for the people of Pakistan, with a focus on rewarding small investors and expanding financial inclusion to ensure that the benefits of banking sector growth are distributed widely across the country.
