ISLAMABAD: The Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) has approved the proposed acquisition of First Women Bank Ltd (FWBL) by Eve Holdings RSC Ltd under a share-purchase agreement executed as part of the privatisation process.

The approval was granted following a phase-I competition assessment conducted under the Competition Act, 2010. The acquirer is a special purpose holding company incorporated in Abu Dhabi.

Under the approved transaction, Eve Holdings will acquire the entire shareholding of the bank from the Government of Pakistan and existing institutional shareholders, including Habib Bank Ltd, MCB Bank Ltd, Allied Bank Ltd, National Bank of Pakistan and United Bank Ltd. Upon completion of the transaction, Eve Holdings will assume full ownership and control of the bank.

The CCP’s assessment stated that the FWBL has a limited presence in the commercial banking market, while the acquirer has no existing operations in the relevant or related market. The transaction, therefore, qualifies as a conglomerate merger and does not raise competition concerns.

Published in Dawn, February 24th, 2026