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Category: Money & Banking

Money and banking drive economic activity by facilitating transactions, savings, and investments. Banks manage financial resources, offer credit, and regulate money supply, ensuring stability and growth in Pakistan’s financial sector.

  • SBP revises mechanism for valuation, repatriation of disinvestment proceeds

    SBP revises mechanism for valuation, repatriation of disinvestment proceeds

    KARACHI: In order to further streamline the process of remittance of disinvestment proceeds, State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has decided to further delegate the authority to banks of resident companies for remittance of disinvestment proceeds to non-resident investors, a statement said on Monday.

    The SBP invited the attention of the Authorized Dealers (ADs) or banks is to the instructions contained in Para 7(vii), Chapter 20 of Foreign Exchange Manual in terms of which designated Authorized Dealer is allowed for remittance of disinvestment proceeds not exceeding the market value (in case of listed securities)/ break-up value (in case of unlisted securities) favoring the non-residents.

    Accordingly, the above referred Para of Chapter-20 ibid has been replaced as follows:

    “Subject to observance of the procedure outlined above, the companies issuing/registering transfer of shares in favour of non-residents on repatriation basis, may export the share certificates through the designated Authorized Dealer to the shareholders. The designated Authorized Dealer shall also allow remittances in respect of the following:-

    (i) Dividend, net of applicable taxes, as permitted under Chapter 14.

    (ii) Disinvestment proceeds, less brokerage / commission and taxes, as under:

    A. For disinvestment proceeds not exceeding the market value (in case of listed securities)/ break-up value (in case of unlisted securities), the designated Authorized Dealer shall allow the remittance on submission and review of:

    a) Name and address of the non-resident share holder.

    b) Name and address of the company whose shares were sold by the non-resident beneficiary, indicating whether it is a listed or unlisted/private limited company and is covered under para 6 ibid. (This requirement may be waived by the Authorized Dealer in case of quoted shares).

    c) Name, address and residential status of the buyer of the shares in question.

    d) Copy of broker’s memo in case of quoted shares/break-up value certificate of a QCR rated practicing Chartered Accountant in case of unlisted shares.

    e) Attested copy of executed Share Purchase Agreement (enforceable at law) between resident buyer and non-resident seller, showing rupee value of shares purchased.

    f) Attested copy of latest audited financials of the company whose shares were being sold.

    g) Duly filled/ signed M-Form for the rupee value of the remittance in favor of non-resident.

    h) An undertaking from the buyer that the transaction is not between related parties. In case the transaction is between related parties, an undertaking that the same has been concluded at an arms-length basis.

    i) Authorized Dealer will ensure due diligence of the transaction/ buyer from AML/ CFT perspective.

    B. For disinvestment proceeds exceeding the market value (in case of listed securities)/ break-up value (in case of unlisted securities), the designated Authorized Dealer shall allow the remittance after satisfying itself about the genuineness of the transaction by reviewing the following additional documents:

    a) Detailed justifications/ rationale/ basis of setting the transaction price per share, from the buyer, in original.

    b) Attested copy of detailed valuation/ transaction due diligence by the buyer showing basis, methodology and key valuation metrics used for valuation of shares as per generally accepted best practices for valuation of shares.

    c) In case the total remittance of disinvestment proceeds exceeds US Dollar 50 million (or equivalent in other currencies) during a span of six months, the applicant, in addition to above information/ documents, shall also submit an independent/ third party review of the buyer’s valuation, from QCR rated practicing chartered accountant as per the latest generally accepted valuation techniques/ methods for a particular type of industry in which resident company is operating. The review report should at least provide view on the appropriateness of the basis and methodology used in the valuation/ transaction due diligence. Further, the review report should also include local/ global comparable transactions and/or trading multiples of comparable publicly traded companies and key valuation metric(s) comparisons, if available.”

    4. Authorized Dealers are advised to bring the above instructions to the knowledge of all their constituents for meticulous compliance.

  • Dollar eases to Rs161.05

    Dollar eases to Rs161.05

    KARACHI: The Pak Rupee appreciated by 32 paisas to the dollar on Monday owing to improved foreign exchange reserves of the country and better inflows.

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  • UBL makes Rs5.45 billion quarterly provisioning, write-offs

    UBL makes Rs5.45 billion quarterly provisioning, write-offs

    KARACHI: High provisioning and write-offs of Rs5.45 billion has resulted in decline of after tax profit declared by United Bank Limited (UBL)

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  • Rupee gains 45 paisas against dollar on foreign inflows

    Rupee gains 45 paisas against dollar on foreign inflows

    KARACHI: The Pak Rupee gained 45 paisas against the dollar on Friday owing to substantial inflows of export receipts and workers’ remittances.

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  • Credit card fraud by bank official unearthed

    Credit card fraud by bank official unearthed

    ISLAMABAD: The Banking Mohtasib (Ombudsman) has provided a relief to a person, who lost money through credit card transactions that were made fraudulently by a bank official.

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  • SBP issues procedure for Sharia based investment in Naya Pakistan Certificates

    SBP issues procedure for Sharia based investment in Naya Pakistan Certificates

    KARACHI: State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) on Friday issued procedure for Islamic mode of investments in Naya Pakistan Certificates (NPCs). The SBP said that the government had established a wholly-owned special purpose vehicle, namely Islamic NPC Company Limited (INPCCL), which shall be managed under the mandate of its Board of Directors. INPCCL shall be issuing INPCs denominated in USD and PKR to the agent banks and investors.

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  • Mohtasib receives 14,587 complaints against banks

    Mohtasib receives 14,587 complaints against banks

    ISLAMABAD: The Banking Mohtasib (Ombudsman) Pakistan has received 14,587 complaints against banks for the year ended December 31, 2019.

    The annual report of Banking Mohtasib Pakistan revealed the number of complaints against each bank in the following table:

    S. No.BankTotal
    01Albaraka Bank (Pakistan) Limited56
    02Allied Bank Limited586
    03Askari Bank Limited227
    04Bank Al Habib Limited118
    05Bank Alfalah Limited764
    06Bank Islami Pakistan Limited110
    07Citibank3
    08Dubai Islamic Bank Pakistan Limited101
    09Faysal Bank Limited477
    10First Women Bank Limited12
    11Habib Bank Limited2511
    12Habib Metropolitan Bank Limited68
    13JS Bank Limited262
    14MCB Bank Limited880
    15Meezan Bank Limited319
    16National Bank of Pakistan825
    17Samba Bank Limited8
    18Silk Bank Limited586
    19Sindh Bank32
    20SME Bank Limited5
    21Soneri Bank Limited75
    22Standard Chartered Bank (Pakistan) Limited267
    23Summit Bank Limited60
    24The Bank of Khyber20
    25The Bank of Punjab267
    26The Punjab Provincial Cooperative Bank Limited24
    27United Bank Limited1587
    28Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited94
    29Institutions other than banks313
    30Complaints received through Prime Minister’s Portal3930

    Relief claimed amounting to Rs 260,985,799/- has been granted to the complainants.

    In the year under review, a total number of 1422 formal complaints were resolved against which 160 Representations were made to the President, Islamic Republic of Pakistan.

    During the year ending December 31, 2019, one Review Petition was filed and the same was allowed.

    The highest number of complaints received from the province of Punjab i.e. 10,074 followed by Sindh 3,094, Khyber Pukhtunkhwa 1,055, Balochistan 131, Azad Kashmir 212, Gilgit Baltistan 21.

  • Dollar retreats to Rs161.82 in interbank

    Dollar retreats to Rs161.82 in interbank

    KARACHI: The Pak Rupee continued its gaining momentum and further advanced by 31 paisas against the dollar on Thursday as the currency market remained positive.

    The rupee ended Rs161.82 to the dollar from previous day’s closing of Rs162.13 in interbank foreign exchange market.

    Currency experts said that sufficient inflows and a current account surplus helped the rupee to make gain.

    With the latest depreciation the dollar comes at five-month low in the interbank foreign exchange market.

    The dollar reached to record high of Rs168.43 on August 26, 2020 in interbank foreign exchange market.

    The rupee recovered around Rs6.61 against the dollar from witnessing record low against dollar.

    The experts said that ease in exchange rate pressure to help reduce debt pressure by Rs725 billion.

  • Banking fraud: Rs7.6 million withdrawn on un-signed cheque

    Banking fraud: Rs7.6 million withdrawn on un-signed cheque

    ISLAMABAD: A bank account holder is fortunate to get back an amount of Rs7.6 million on the intervention of Banking Mohtasib (Ombudsman) Pakistan. The amount was fraudulently withdrawn from the account on a foraged cheque and the branch manager was found involved in the fraud.

    A case related to cash withdrawn on forged cheque is reported in the fifteenth Annual Report of Banking Mohtasib Pakistan for the year ending 31 December 2019.

    The report said that the complainant was maintaining a joint account with his wife with operational instructions “Either or Survivor” since December 18, 2012.

    “They had neither applied for a cheque book nor any cheque book was ever delivered to them, yet an amount of Rs 7.600 (M) was withdrawn from their account without their consent and knowledge.

    “The Complainant demanded refund, but the Bank paid no heed to his request.

    “Complainant, therefore, lodged a complaint with the Banking Mohtasib.”

    The Bank was asked to submit detailed investigation report along with copies of AOF, SS Card, KYC, disputed cheque No. 105805316 for Rs 7,600,000/- dated 21.04.2017 (both sides), statement of account and cheque book issuance request and delivery proof thereof.

    The Bank provided the requisite documents. On examination of the provided documents it was found that: According to the Complainant, they had never applied for issuance of any cheque book at any time.

    “From the Cheque book requisition request it was observed that the signature thereon was clearly different from the signature of Complainant recorded on his AOF and S. S. Card. Clearly, therefore, the cheque book was issued against a fake signature,” the report said.

    On perusal of cheque dated 21-04-2017 for Rs 7.600 (M), it was observed that it was not signed at all.

    As per Complainant, the cheque was not mandated. It was obvious that the Bank cleared the unsigned cheque which was a nullity in law.

    Further, neither any Call-back Confirmation was done nor could the Bank explain in its defence as to how payment was made on a cheque which was void under law and not a cheque at all.

    The payment of huge sum of Rs 7.600 (M) in cash was also surprising.

    Due to the seriousness of the lapses on the part of the Bank, the case was set for a formal hearing on May 2, 2019 at our Regional Office, Rawalpindi.

    The Bank’s representative produced related Cheque Book Requisition slip (CBR) along with paid cheque.

    On examination of CBR it was observed that a cheque book of five leaves, bearing number 105805316 to 105805320, was issued on April 21, 2017.

    The signature on CBR did not match with the signature of the Complainant available in the Bank’s record i.e. AOF & S. S. Card, whereas the Cheque number 105805316 dated 21-04-2017 against which payment of Rs 7,600,000/- was made found to be un- signed.

    On further scrutiny it was observed that cash recipient’s signatures were also not available on the back of the cheque as well as denominational details were also not furnished on the back of the cheque as against general banking practice.

    Moreover, the Bank also failed to provide any record of Call-back Confirmation (CBC) to the Account-holder as per its own SOP as the cheque was of a very large sum and payment had to be made in cash.

    The Bank officials submitted that the Ex-Branch Manager, who was involved in this scam, has absconded and the Bank has lodged a report with the FIA after its initial enquiry.

    It is a well settled principle of law that the employer is vicariously liable for any fraud or other wrong doing of his employee committed in the course of his employment, whether for the benefit of the employer or not.

    In view of the above findings and as admitted position, it was concluded that the Complainant is entitled for his lump sum claim of Rs 7,600,000/- from the Bank.

    Therefore, the Bank was advised to forthwith refund the sum of Rs 7,600,000/- to the Complainant.

    The Bank subsequently, filed representation with the President Islamic Republic of Pakistan against the Order passed by the Banking Mohtasib under Section 14 of Federal Ombudsmen Institutions Reforms Act – 2013 (FOIRA) where the Order of Banking Mohtasib was up-held.

  • Banks should aware customers about online frauds: Ombudsman

    Banks should aware customers about online frauds: Ombudsman

    ISLAMABAD: The Banking Mohtasib (Ombudsman) of Pakistan has recommended that at the time of activation of online services Banks/ Microfinance Banks relevant staff shall educate customers about various types of online banking frauds as well as the corresponding preventive measures.

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