KARACHI — November 15, 2025: Meezan Bank Ltd clinched the Best Bank Award for the third time at the 10th Pakistan Banking Awards by SBP, while the Bank of Punjab (BoP) dominated this year’s ceremony with three major awards, underscoring its expanding role in inclusive banking. The event, held on Friday, highlighted both achievements within the financial sector and key concerns raised by regulators over the industry’s direction.
Organised by the National Institute of Banking and Finance (NIBAF) in collaboration with Dawn Media Group and A.F. Ferguson & Co., the ceremony brought together prominent banking executives, policymakers and industry stakeholders.
State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Governor Jameel Ahmad, the chief guest, congratulated the winners but simultaneously delivered a pointed critique of Pakistan’s commercial banks for their “risk-averse” behaviour, stating that excessive dependence on risk-free government lending continues to undermine economic growth.
Meezan Bank was named the best bank for a third time, while the Bank of Punjab picked up three honours at the 10th Pakistan Banking Awards ceremony.
Bank Alfalah received two awards.https://t.co/he4UmTRm2y
— Dawn Business (@dawn_business) November 15, 2025
Meezan Bank’s CEO received the top honour amid applause, marking the institution’s sustained leadership in the industry. Meanwhile, BoP earned standing recognition after winning Best Bank for Agriculture Inclusion, Best Bank for Women Inclusion, and Best Bank for SMEs, reflecting its growing outreach in underserved sectors.
Bank Alfalah secured two awards — Best Bank for Digital Excellence and Best Bank for Customer Engagement — acknowledging its expanding digital footprint and customer-driven approach. Kashf Foundation was named Best Microfinance Institution, while Faysal Bank won Best Mid-Sized Bank. HBL received the award for Best Bank for ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) practices.
In a video message, Dawn CEO Nazafreen Saigol Lakhani praised the decade-long effort behind the awards but expressed concern that persistent low economic growth indicated that banks had not sufficiently supported the broader economy.
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Addressing the gathering, the SBP governor called for a “fundamental shift” in the banking sector over the coming decade. He said banks must reorient toward lending that supports private-sector growth, particularly SMEs, small depositors and export-oriented businesses.
Governor Ahmad outlined four priority areas for the future:
• Deepening digitalisation, including mobile commerce and agriculture supply-chain finance.
• Integrating AI and machine learning for advanced risk models and customised financial products.
• Embedding climate risk into credit decisions and scaling green financing.
• Strategically aligning banking services with the needs of exporters to strengthen Pakistan’s external sector.
He cautioned that banks clinging to the comfort of government securities “will be left behind” as innovation-driven institutions rise to meet Pakistan’s evolving economic challenges.
The ceremony concluded with calls for greater responsibility, innovation and inclusion as the industry prepares for the next decade of transformation.
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