The State Bank of Pakistan has issued 730 licences to commercial banks to open new branches/sub-branches in 2008 under its Branch Licensing Policy (BLP). This has been the highest number of licences given by the State Bank in any one year. In 2007, the State Bank had issued 474 branch licences. As of December 16, 2008 total number of bank branches operating in the country was 8,886.
Under BLP, commercial banks which want to open new places of business during a calendar year are required to submit their 'Annual Branch Expansion Plan' (ABEP) to the State Bank for consideration and approval. Accordingly, various banks submitted their ABEP-2008 and were granted approval for opening of branches.
As required under the BLP, banks are required to open at least 20 percent branches in rural/under-served areas (RUAs), which means villages and small towns and include those Tehsil Headquarters where there is no branch of any bank.
Accordingly, in 2008, 144 branch licences were issued for opening branches in RUAs, exceeding the mandatory requirement of 20 percent. The locations identified by banks for opening of new branches are well diversified throughout the country covering all the four provinces, the Northern Areas, Azad Jammu & Kashmir and Islamabad Capital.
In addition, 178 licenses for opening of sub-branches were granted in 2008 while 408 licences were granted for opening branches in urban areas. Total 30 banks were granted permission by the State Bank to open new branches/sub-branches in 2008. Highest number of 66 licences was granted to BankIslami, followed by Meezan Bank 61, and 55 each to Askari Bank and United Bank.
Other prominent banks which were given branch/sub-branch licences in 2008 included Bank Al Falah 51, Bank Al Habib 50, KASB Bank 38, Emirates Global Islamic Bank 30, MCB Bank 30, JS Bank 30, Soneri Bank 28, Faysal Bank 25, Arif Habib Bank 21, My Bank 20, National Bank 19, Habib Bank 18, Kashf Microfinance Bank 18, Dawood Islamic Bank 16, Atlas Bank 15, Allied Bank 14, AlBaraka Islamic Bank 12, Habib Metropolitan Bank 10, The First Microfinance Bank 10 and miscellaneous 38.
The branch network of Islamic banking institutions exceeded 500 by December 2008. Total branch network of Islamic banking institutions now consists of 506 branches, including 70 sub-branches. In December 2007, total branches of Islamic banking institutions were 289 and during this year 217 new outlets have been opened by Islamic banking institutions. This impressive growth is proof of resilience of Islamic banking industry in Pakistan, which would be helpful in achieving the cherished target of 12 percent market share by Islamic banking by 2012, as envisaged in Strategic Plan announced by the State Bank.