KARACHI: Engro Fertilizers Ltd and MCB Bank Ltd have partnered to accelerate digitization of financial products and developed Pakistan’s first-ever solution to electronically manage bank guarantees.

With businesses adopting virtual operations and enforcing minimal physical interaction in the wake of COVID-19, Engro engaged MCB to develop an electronic bank guarantee management solution that will promote digitalization and enhanced corporate service delivery.

The Bank, in consultation with Mohsin Tayebaly & Co, managed legal and regulatory concerns to provide a SWIFT-based mechanism to Engro Fertilizers Ltd at nominal cost and minimal impact to business operations. Additionally, the designed process will also facilitate to mitigate the risk of counterfeit bank guarantees, identified as a recurring cause of concern in Pakistan’s banking Industry.

This system, currently operational only for Engro Fertilizers, is expected to be rolled out for all other clients of MCB Bank. Given the existing credit sales model offered by most corporations, the product would assist the wider industry in facilitating their customers and stakeholders in the near future.

This project is in line with the commitment of Engro Fertilizers Ltd to improve national corporate practices and lead the industry with innovative solutions. Earlier this year, the Company was recognized as the best in industrial sector for showing outstanding performance and demonstrating progressive management practices, by the Management Association of Pakistan (MAP).

In a joint statement, Nadir S Qureshi (CEO Engro Fertilizers Ltd) and Mr. Imran Maqbool (President/CEO MCB Bank Ltd) shared pride in the abilities of the combined team responsible for identifying and developing this much needed financial solution. They were confident that this solution would transform the way bank guarantees could now be managed in the country. Mr. Imran Ahmed, CFO Engro Fertilizers Limited, added that designing electronic bank guarantees seemed to be a very challenging task at first, but the teams were able to co-create this solution with great dedication and professionalism.