Bank of Pakistan: Brief History of NBP

The history of National Bank of Pakistan is part of Pakistan’s struggle for economic independence. National Bank of Pakistan was established on November 9, 1949 under the National Bank of Pakistan Ordinance, 1949 in order to cope with the crisis conditions which were developed after trade deadlock with India and devaluation of Indian Rupee in 1949. Initially the Bank was established with the objective to extend credit to the agriculture sector. The normal procedure of establishing a banking company under the Companies Law was set aside and the Bank was established through the promulgation of an Ordinance, due to the crisis situation that had developed with regard to financing of jute trade. The Bank commenced its operations from November 20, 1949 at six important jute centers in the then, East Pakistan and directed its resources in financing of jute crop. The Bank’s Karachi and Lahore offices were subsequently opened in December 1949. The National Bank of Pakistan came forward to establish its offices in the Cotton growing areas and extended credit facilities liberally in order to restore stability to the market. In 1951, the country was once again faced with a crisis in the cotton trade when prices was crashed and touched the lowest level since independence following the cessation of hostilities in Korea. The bank in collaboration with the cotton board provided the necessary Credit facilities to the trade and the crisis was tided over. The nature of responsibilities of the Bank is different and unique from other banks/financial institutions. The Bank acts as the agent to the State Bank of Pakistan for handling Provincial/Federal Government Receipts and Payments on their behalf. The Bank has also played an important role in financing the country’s growing trade, which has expanded through the years as diversification took place.[i]

The National Bank of Pakistan has its headquarters in Karachi, Pakistan. The bank operates 1249(2008) branches in Pakistan and 22(2008) overseas branches. Under a trust Deed, the bank also provides services as trustee to National Investment Trust (NIT) including safe custody of securities on behalf of

NIT. The National Bank of Pakistan has assets worth Rupees 737976.44 million on September 30, 2008.[ii]

National Bank of Pakistan is today a progressive, efficient, and customer focused institution. It has developed a wide range of consumer products, to enhance business and cater to the different segments of society. Some schemes have been specifically designed for the low to middle income segments of the population. These include NBP Karobar, NBP Advance Salary, NBP Saibaan, NBP Kisan Dost, and NBP Cash n Gold.

The National Bank of Pakistan has implemented special credit schemes like small finance for agriculture, business and industries, administrator to Qarz-e-Hasna loans to students, self employment scheme for unemployed persons, public transport scheme. The Bank has expanded its range of products and services to include Shariah Compliant Islamic Banking products. For the promotion of literature, NBP recently initiated the Annual Awards for Excellence in Literature. NBP will confer annual awards to the best books in Urdu and in all prominent regional languages published during the defined period. Patronage from NBP would help creative work in the field of literature. The Bank is also the largest sponsor of sports in Pakistan. It has provided generously to philanthropic causes whenever the need arose.

It has taken various measures to facilitate overseas Pakistanis to send their remittances in a convenient and efficient manner. In 2002 the Bank signed an agreement with Western Union for expanding the base for documented remittances. More recently it has started Electronic Home Remittances Project. This project introduces technology based system to handle inward remittances efficiently, by ensuring that the Bank's branches keep a track of the remittance received from abroad till its final receipt.

A number of initiatives have been taken, in terms of institutional restructuring, changes in the field structure, in policies and procedures, in internal control systems with special emphasis on corporate governance, adoption of Capital Adequacy Standards under Basel II framework, in the up gradation of the IT infrastructure and developing the human resources.

National Bank has earned recognition and numerous awards internationally. It has been the recipient of The Bank of the Year 2001, 2002, 2004 and 2005 Award by The Banker Magazine, the Best Foreign Exchange Bank –– Pakistan for 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007, Global Finance, Best Emerging Market Bank from Pakistan for the year 2005, Global Finance, Kisan Time Awards – 2005 for NBP's services in the agriculture field. It is listed amongst the Region's largest banks and also amongst the largest banks in South Asia 2005, The Asian Banker. It has also been presented a Recognition Award –– 2004 for having a Gender Sensitive Management by WEBCOP AASHA besides other awards.[iii]

The precise summary of National Bank of Pakistan regarding its countrywide and overseas operations is as fallows:

1949 National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) was established under the National Bank of Pakistan Ordinance 1949 and was 100% govt.-owned. NBP acted as an agent of the Central Bank wherever the State Bank did not have its own Branch. It also undertook Government Treasury operations. Its first branches were in jute growing areas in East Pakistan. Offices in Karachi and Lahore followed.
1950 NBP established a branch in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
The Bank in 1950 had one subsidiary ‘The Bank of Bahawalpur’ on December4, 1947 by the former Bahawalpur State
1955 By this time NBP had branches in London and Calcutta.
1957 NBP established a branch in Baghdad, Iraq.
1962 NBP established a branch in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanganyika.
1964 The Iraqi government nationalized NBP's Baghdad branch.
1965 The Indian government seized the Calcutta branch on the outbreak of hostilities between India and Pakistan.
1967 The Tanzanian government nationalized the Dar-Es-Salaam branch.
1971 NBP acquired Bank of China's two branches, one in Karachi and one at Chittagong. At separation of East Pakistan NBP lost its branches there. NBP merged with Eastern Mercantile Bank and with Eastern Bank Corporation.
1974 The government of Pakistan nationalized NBP. As part of the concomitant consolidation of the banking sector, NBP acquired Bank of Bahawalpur (est. 1947).
1977 NBP opened an offshore brain Cairo.
1994 NBP amalgamated Mehran Bank (est. 1991).
1997 NBP's branch in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan commenced operations.
2000 NBP opened a representative office in Almaty, Kazakhstan.
2001 State Bank of Pakistan and Bank of England agree to allow only 2 Pakistani banks to operate in the UK. NBP and United Bank agreed to merge their operations to form Pakistan International Bank, of which NBP would own 45% and United Bank 55%.
2003 NBP received permission to open a branch in Afghanistan.
2005 NBP closed its offshore branch in Cairo.