KARACHI, Oct 30: Muslim Commercial Bank Limited (MCB) posted 41.4 per cent growth in after-tax profit to Rs1,753 million for the nine months ended September 2003, from Rs1,239 million in the corresponding period of the previous year.

The profit represented earning per share at Rs5.72 for the period under review, compared to Rs4.04 in the same period of last year.

A press release by the Bank said that the meeting of the Board of directors, with Mian Muhammad Mansha, in the chair, was held on Thursday. The board also declared a second interim dividend at 12.5 per cent i.e Rs1.25 per share to its shareholders.

“This is in addition to 15 per cent first interim cash dividend already declared for the year 2003,” the bank said and added that the board had also transferred Rs350.54 million to statutory reserve and Rs900 million to general reserve before declaring the second interim dividend.