Khushhalibank Limited, (KBL) established in August 2000 as the country’s first licensed microfinance Institution celebrates its tenth anniversary today. Ghalib Nishtar, President Khushhalibank, expressing his views on the occasion said “We celebrate our anniversary with a resolve to take on new challenges and setting milestones as a pioneer in microfinance banking in Pakistan. We started our journey ten years ago with the intent of developing a new niche within the financial services Industry through mainstreaming microfinance for greater financial Inclusion.  Today, we have made our contribution by making a difference in hundreds and thousands of lives across the country by providing financial service access to the mostly unbanked segments of the population. We continue with our endeavors to pave the way towards a more empowered and self sustained Pakistan.”

Microfinance has been used as an effective tool to increase financial access to the unbanked population of the country.  The establishment of specialized microfinance banks for micro-finance services in Pakistan can and has been contributing towards enhancing the income generation capacity of individuals through the provision of increased access to capital and the opportunity to be part of mainstream economy. Khushhalibank in the last ten years has not only worked as a microfinance bank but launched several special initiatives as part of the social responsibility mission such as women empowerment, education, special skills education, livelihood restoration program for earthquake victims of 2005, business revitalization programs in post calamity situations , Distant Learning Programs and various other programs which were developed to help people build their lives through renewed livelihood opportunities.

Elaborating KBL’s accomplishments, Ghalib Nishtar, further said that since its inception in 2000, Khushhlaibank’s efforts have been dedicated to creating a more economically just social order  by encouraging the less privileged to come forward and avail opportunities for better livelihoods. “These ten years have truly been fruitful in terms of recognition, prosperity, and growth and not only for KBL but also its customers throughout the country.” Today KBL is the largest microfinance institution in Pakistan with 111 branches across the country including AJK and FATA.

In order to mark the completion of  10 years of operations, Khushhalibank  has launched 11 new branches in the districts of Rawapindi, Karachi, Larkana, Pakpattan, Sahiwal, Kasur, Sialkot, Multan, Leyyah and DG Khan. Additionally, with a view to expressing solidarity with the affected of the recent floods Khushhalibank staff has decided to contribute one day salary towards the flood relief efforts.