About Us - FWBL

She took up the uphill task of organisational restructuring and successfully brought about a complete turnaround by the end of 2003. The period from June 2001 to December 2006 was an era of “Turnaround” for the First Women Bank Ltd. with significant growth recorded in all financial activities. The Bank accomplished the highest ever results in all key areas during the years 2001 – 2006 over the previous 11 years and continued to progress in all spheres of financial and operational activities.

The accumulated losses of PKR 138 million as of Dec. 2000 were wiped out, in addition to absorbing impact of taxes, staff retirement benefits and other provisions of PKR 108 million, relating to prior years.

Deposits increased from PKR 3.4 billion in 2000 to PKR 6.9 billion in 2006, reflecting growth of 105% over 2000.

Advances increased from PKR 604 million in 2000 to PKR 3115 million in 2006, an increase of 416% over 2000.

Balance sheet size / Total Assets increased from PKR 3.9 billion to PKR 8.9 billion, growth of 132%.

Net-equity increased from PKR 110 million in 2000 to PKR 935 million in 2006, reflecting growth of 750% over 2000.

Net profit before tax increased from PKR 26 million in 2000 to PKR 256 million in 2006, The Bank earned highest cumulative pre-tax profit in the years 2001-2006 of PKR 1.2 billion an increase of 5940% over 11 years. In eleven years (1989-2000) pre-tax profits earned were PKR 291 million, with a loss of PKR 271 million, the net profit was PKR 20 million.

Net asset value per share increased from PKR 5.50 in 2000 to PKR 32.95 in 2005, reflecting growth of 499% over 2000.

Bank issued 20% Bonus Shares to the shareholders, which increased the paid up Capital from PKR 200 million to PKR 240 million. (PKR stand for Pakistani Rupee)

Her major achievement during her tenure as the President in recent years had been:

Commencement of Online Banking through all 38 branches network in March 2007.

The Bank wiped out its entire losses in year 2003, and became first exemplary semi-government organization that endured losses from its own resources, and rose up as profit bearing institution.

Automating the entire network of 38 branches of Bank, all over Pakistan. Acquiring fully integrated/tested software in March 2004.

Renewal of the Bank’s collaboration with ILO/IPEC, on the project titled “Combating Child Labour “in the carpet weaving industry. The direction of this collaboration is Micro-credit, skill training to the women in carpet weaving industry and educating children in the carpet industry and community development. (July 2004)

Upgrading of the long and short term credit ratings of the Bank in November 2004, to ‘AA’ and ‘A1+’, respectively, which the bank has maintained till date. The ratings denote a very low expectation of credit risk emanating from a very strong capacity for timely payment of financial commitments. The ratings upgraded to AA by PACRA – demonstrating the Bank’s sustainability and financial strength. (PACRA stands for Pakistan Credit Rating Agency Limited). Commending the Bank President’s performance of the Bank, PACRA stated: Quote “The current Chief Executive/President was appointed on a three years term. At the expiry of her term, she has been given an extension for two years. The change of management under the leadership of the new president has provided the bank with the much needed strategic focus and formulation of proper risk evaluation and management systems necessary for viable operations in addition to strengthening the staff support.” Unquote.(Press Release published in the News International on November 13, 2004)

Collaboration with Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) for training and capacity building of First Women Bank Ltd. employees.

Collaboration with a Pakistan-Italian NGO ‘Depilex Smilegain’ for reconstructive surgeries of women victims suffering from domestic violence (acid and kerosene burnt). Reconstructive surgeries were performed by world renowned reconstructive surgeons. All women belonged to lower income group.

Collaboration with world famous training institution for hair care and styling ‘Pivot Point’, and financed students for acquiring professional training and on completion of their course offering them business loans to set-up their own salons.

Launching Consumer Financing Schemes such as Auto Loans, Home Loans, and Loans for Consumer Durables. In addition, the Bank also re-launched Personal Loans for women and Loans for Businesswomen with higher credit ceilings and extra facility such as Financial Services Desk which offers free consultancy to women on Credit, Legal, Marketing, and Taxation issues. The idea behind launching consumer loans was primarily asset ownership for women.

Reappointed as President First Women Bank Limited for the second term

Represented Pakistan as Speaker at the Women in Power 2006, by Intelligence Business Networks (IBN), Malaysia.

Represented Pakistan as Speaker at the Middle East Financial Technology & Conference, MEFTEC 2006, Bahrain.

Represented Pakistan as Keynote Speaker at an international conference organised by International Finance Corp. (IFC) and South Asia Enterprise Development Facility (SEDF), titled ‘Bridging the Gap between Micro-Finance and SME Finance’ in Dhaka, Bangladesh (2005).

Member delegate, Government of Pakistan ‘United Nation’s Special General Assembly Session – Beijing Plus 5’, New York, USA (2001).

Member delegate, Government of Pakistan ‘International Franchise Expo’, Washington D.C, USA (1999).

3rd Training the Trainer for Women Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Development, Women Development Institute, Republic of Korea (1998).

4th Asia Pacific Conference at Bangkok, Thailand on “Sustainable Banking with the Poor’ (World Bank and the Foundation for Development & Cooperation Australia) (1997), where she was elected as banking representative.

International Business Awards, USA awarded Ms. Aziz the “Best Turnaround Executive”, 2005.

Awarded “Woman of the year 2004” by South Asia Publications at the 15th Star Awards 2004 and the National Commission for Human Resource Development, Government of Pakistan.

Conferred with the prestigious award ‘Woman of the Year 2003’ in October 2004 for her leadership qualities in achieving financial turnaround, persistent growth, wiping out colossal losses, restructuring of FWBL and extraordinary efforts for socio-economic empowerment of women and development of women entrepreneurs (Ladies Forum Pakistan).

Awarded “Meritorious Work for Women Development” in 2000 by NPA/CEDAW Unit, Department of Social Welfare, Women Development & Baitul Mal, Punjab, Pakistan.

Kinnaird College awarded her the ‘Young Professional Award’ in the year 2000, in recognition of her extraordinary banking career. She was the student of Kinnarid College, Lahore, Pakistan.

She gave a new vision to the First Women Bank Ltd. ‘To be the lead bank for women dynamic, adaptive and responsive to their economic needs, offering the best financial services and the best banking practices’.

Ms. Aziz is an optimist and envisions First Women Bank Ltd. as the lead bank for the women of Pakistan. She is determined and steadfast on the road to expansion with presence of the bank at every urban, rural woman’s doorstep.

Ms. Aziz is a self-confessed perfectionist who places great store by strategy and focus in the achievement of goals. She has rightly been described as Humbert Wolfe’s woman who, standing alone, looking fearlessly at life, not hopping to lure or smooth or frighten her, but gravely holding out a steady hand, as to another woman like yourself, having no tricks, save the one trick of courage.