KARACHI: The country’s banking sector has witnessed 58 per cent growth in after-tax profit on YoY in the first quarter (Jan-March 2015) of ongoing calendar year to Rs80 billion.
According to Quarterly Performance Review of the Banking Sector issued by the State Bank, the banks’ capital adequacy ratio (CAR) has increased to 17.4pc, which is well above the local benchmark of 10pc and international benchmark of 8pc.
Bank-wise statistics revealed that healthy profitability was broadly distributed as 33 institutions posted profits while the number of loss-making banks came down to four in March this year.
Concentration of earnings decreased further as the share of top five banks in earnings reduced to 63pc in March 2015 from 67pc a year ago, said the report.
Banks holding of government securities surged by 12.9pc quarter-on-quarter and 32.4pc year-on-year to Rs5.4 trillion. They now constitute more than 90pc of total investments and 43pc of total assets.
