July 15, 2007	Sunday	Jamadi-us-Sani 29, 1428

LAHORE, July 14: The Bahrain based Al-Barka Islamic Bank will open eight more branches in Pakistan by the end of this year, bringing the total to 20. “Pakistan’s banking sector is booming these days. We are consolidating as well as expanding our operations in this part of the world,” Al-Barka Islamic Bank President Salah A. Zainalabedin told newsmen.

He said the bank was planning to launch its credit card very soon to help its clients benefit from the state-of-the-art online banking facilities.

He said the bank might come up with the concept of Islamic insurance, Takaful, within next couple of years.

He said that the recent merger of Al-Barka Islamic Bahrain and Al Amin Bank Bahrain would have good effects on the financial health of the bank.