Press Releases
 

FWBL URGED TO FOCUS ON RURAL WOMEN
 

October 21, 2009

The sub-committee of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Women Development held a meeting in Karachi on October 20, 2009 to resolve the problems and challenges faced by First Women Bank Ltd. and make recommendations for its survival.

The meeting was chaired by Mrs. Ishrat Ashraf, MNA Convener of the Committee. Mrs. Fouzia Ejaz MNA, Dr. Zil-e- Huma, MNA and Mr. Abdul Majid Additional Secretary Women Development Government of Pakistan attended the meeting.

Mrs. Shafqat Sultana President FWBL  briefed the committee about the recent decision of Government of Pakistan to keep  the First Women Bank Limited (FWBL) in the public sector by purchasing the share of its private shareholder banks through the State Bank of Pakistan and expressed hope that in the light of the above decision Bank would be able to serve women of Pakistan in a better way.

Mrs. Ishrat Ashraf Convener of the Committee appreciated the performance of the Bank and stressed the need to expand its outreach. She directed the bank to give focus on women of rural areas by providing easy access to credit. In this regard she directed to form a six member Committee to formulate strategies and proposals to increase the effectiveness of the bank. 

 

 
 
FWBL TO BE KEPT IN PUBLIC SECTOR
 

October 16, 2009

The Government of Pakistan has decided to keep First Women Bank Ltd. (FWBL) in the public sector by purchasing the shares of private shareholder banks i.e. MCB , HBL, ABL and UBL through State Bank of Pakistan .This was told by Mrs. Shafqat Sultana President FWBL to the women parliamentarians of Sindh Assembly who visited FWBL on October 15, 2009. She briefed the parliamentarians about the performance of the Bank. First Women Bank Ltd. besides, being a commercial Bank with its socio-economic objectives is fully committed to work for the betterment of the society especially for the female population of the country, Mrs. Sultana further added.
Speaking on the occasion Ms. Shehla Raza Deputy Speaker Sindh Assembly expressed that the First Women Bank Ltd. credit products with the focus for women and its lending portfolio reflects the true model of FWBL that caters to women at all levels of economic activity and hoped that the Bank will introduce more products focusing on serving the poorest of the poor women.

For the Pakistani women Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto was a role model who had the vision to develop a society free of gender discrimination, something that is obvious from PPP manifesto and the measures she took during her past tenures as Prime Minister, Ms. Raza added.

Ms. Nargis N. D. Khan Sindh Minister for Social Welfare also attended the meeting.

 
2009

Board of Directors Meeting

a
FWBL ANNUAL CONFERENCE
 

August 10, 2009

During the current year First Women Bank Ltd. showed a record growth in all financial key components. As of  30th of June 2009 the total advances portfolio reached the highest position of Rs. 4.12 billion and Deposits have increased from Rs.5.8 billion to Rs. 7.68 billion.

Addressing the 20th Annual Conference of FWBL in Karachi, Ms. Shafqat Sultana President  & CEO expressed her satisfaction over the performance of the Bank. She said that the Bank in it endeavors to provide quality service catering to the special needs of women in the country. The theme of the conference was “Empowering women through Dynamic Partnerships”.

Women are the architects of the society. Today Pakistan desperately needs for its women to be recognized as economic agents. They must know that the stronger power in the world is economic power. If our women are not economically empowered, they will always remain submissive. An empowered organization is one in which individuals have the knowledge, skill, desire, and opportunity to personally succeed in a way that leads to collective organizational success. We are fortunate that we belong to an empowering institution that empowers women. "She said.

The Conference was attended by the Area Managers, Divisional Heads, Regional Heads and Branch Managers from all over the country. Strategies were discussed and line of action was formulated to achieve the December 2009 targets. Later Ms. Shafqat Sultana awarded the management and staff for their outstanding performance in the year 2008.

Blue Area Branch Islamabad declared the best Corporate Branch while Faisalabad Branch stood runners-up. Larkana Branch received the Best Branch Award in Medium size category while AIOU Branch Islamabad received runners-up award. Best Small Branch award was given to Sukkur and Abbottabad branches.

Awards and Certificates were also given to Area Managers. They were  Ms. Bushra Ehsan . Ms. Tasneem Rizvi, Ms. Sabiha Zafar, Ms. Seema Moulvi and Ms. Zahida Channa, Ms. Ghazala Hussain and Ms. Parvin M.khan.

Ms. Shaheen Zamir, Ms. Ameena Farooq, Ms. Masooma Firdousi, Mr. Iqbal Hussain , Mr. Furqan Yasir, Ms. Naushaba Shahzad, Ms. Farida Faridi Ms. Nida Naz and others were awarded certificate of excellence for their outstanding performance.

 
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CORPORATE DOCUMENTRY

July 31, 2009

The Corporate Documentary Film  of the First Women Bank Ltd. “ FWBL – The Icon of Women’s Economic Empowerment” was launched at a local hotel. The Chairperson of the National Commission for Human Development,Ms. Nafisa Shah, was the chief guest while Ms. Shehnaz Wazir Ali Chairperson Higher Education Commission presided over the ceremony.

Speaking on the occasion, Nafisa Shah, who is also a member of the National Assembly, said that the present government in accordance with the vision of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, is striving for the empowerment of women in the country.

She pointed out that female Haris are also being distributed the land. Ms. Shah stated that steps are also being undertaken for tackling the problem of poverty and projects with a sum of Rs. 70 billion have been initiated in this connection.
She lauded the performance of the FWBL and said that this would contributed towards the empowerment of women in the country.  Ms. Shah also declared that the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) in accordance with its manifesto would continue to endeavour for the empowerment of the women.

She said that Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto had conceived the idea of coming up with the women's bank in the country for furthering the cause of the women.

Ms. Shahnaz Wazir Ali said that the PPP always worked for the betterment of the women.  She said that the party also undertook practical steps for the empowerment of the women in the country.

The President and Chief Executive Officer of the FWBL, Ms.Shafqat Sultana, said that the FWBL has so far disbursed loans worth Rs. 19 billion and of these loans worth Rs. 13.3 billion were given to women which constitutes 70 percent. She said that the FWBL has extended loans to more than 45,000 women in the country.

Ms. Tauqir Fatima Bhutto Minister for Women Development Government of Sindh and Ms. Charmaine Hidayatullah of FWBL also spoke on the occasion.

MS. SHAFQAT SULTANA NEW PRESIDENT
OF FIRST WOMEN BANK LTD.

May 5, 2009

Ms. Shafqat Sultana, the newly appointed President of First Women Bank Ltd. has assumed her office today in Karachi. She is the 3rd president of First Women Bank Ltd.

Ms. Shafqat has been serving the FWBL as its Executive Vice President and General Manager Sindh and Balochistan for the past nine years. She was also member of Executive Committee of the Bank. She joined First Women Bank Ltd in 1989 as Branch Manager in AVP cadre, and was declared best Branch Manager for two consecutive years. Promoted VP and Regional Development Chief in 1992, she also used her expertise in the training & development of the women entrepreneur. In 1998 she was promoted to SVP cadre and was entrusted with the responsibilities of Sector Executive Upper Punjab. Further elevated to EVP in 2002, she was given the responsibilities of General Manager Sindh & Balochistan. She also held the position of National Project Director- Women in Urban Credit, a project of UNDP. For her outstanding performance she was awarded as “Best Sector Executive Upper Punjab” in 2001 and honored with “Certificate of Excellence” for her contributions in UNDP project in 2003.

She started her professional career from UBL in 1975. In 1985 she was declared “best directing member staff”, and was the first Lady Manager at PC branch Rawalpindi in 1988. In addition to representing Pakistan in World Conference on Women in Beijing she has addressed in Senate, Parliament, and various national and international organizations on women socio economic concerns. She also holds to her credit many publications as well.
2008
 
2007
 
Submission of CNIC




 

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