Bank Alfalah quits Kabul after 20 years

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KARACHI: After two decades, Bank Alfalah has fully exited Afghanistan by selling its assets, the bank told its shareholders on Friday.

A notice to the Pakistan Stock Exchange said the transaction was completed on Nov 5, following the signing of definitive transaction documents, approval from the State Bank of Pakistan and Da Afghanistan Bank, and fulfilment of the other conditions precedent.

Both countries approved this development and allowed the BAFL to sell and transfer its operations to Ghaznafar Bank in Afghanistan.

“Bank Alfalah has acco­rdingly ceased its banking operations in Afghanistan and will complete the closure of its Afghanistan bra­nches in accordance with applicable regulatory req­u­ir­ements,” the notification said.

BAFL started its operations in 2005 in Kabul, offering both conventional and Islamic banking services.

Published in Dawn, November 7th, 2026

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