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FirstWomenBank

Organization:
Givingwomenthepowertosucceed
FirstWomenBankLtd.,bothacommercialbankandDFIdesigned,managedandrunbywomen,for
women,wassetupin1989bytheIslamicworldsfirstwomanPrimeMinisterBenazirBhutto(Shaheed)
whoenvisionedabankthatwouldmeetthespecialneedsofwomenentrepreneurs.Currently,theBank
isheadedbyMrs.ShafqatSultana,whotookoverasPresidentinMay2009.
TheFWBLmodelcaterstowomenatalllevelsofeconomicactivitymicro,small,mediumand
corporate.Mostimportantly,theBankprovideswomenwiththesupportservicesrequiredtonavigate
theobstaclestothedevelopmentofbusiness.Bydoingso,FWBLishelpingthememergeaskey
playersinthenationalandglobaleconomy.
TheBankhasalwayslookedatitsmicrofinanceborrowersaspotentialSMEandCorporateclients.The
Banksuniquecreditpoliciespromoteassetownershipforwomen,byprovidingfinancingtobusiness
entities:
Wherewomenhave50%shareholding
WhereawomanistheManagingDirector
Wherewomenemployeesare50%ormore
However,theBankseeksdepositsfromandprovidesservicestobothgenders.
In1992,anILOGenevaStudyrecognizedFirstWomenBankLtd.asamajorinnovationinPakistan,
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alongwithEdhiTrustandLahoreUniversityofManagementSciences(LUMS).In1994,Euromoney
awardedFWBLtheBestBankinPakistanforitslowadministrativecost.
FWBLwasthefirstCommercialBanktolaunchMicroCreditinPakistan.In2001,WomensWorld
BankinginitsGlobalDirectoryprofiledFWBLforBankingInnovationinMicrofinance,andacknowledged
thatFWBLfeaturesamongtheworldsmicrofinanceleaders.
Tocombatchildlabourinthecarpetweavingindustry,FWBLcollaboratedwithILOanddirectlyfinanced
womenmicroborrowersinruralareas.TheBankdisbursedmicrocreditto2921womenlivingbelow
thepovertylinein162villages,with100%recoveryrate.Underthisproject5842childrenwereweaned
outfromchildlabourandeducatedthroughnonformaleducationalcenters.
TheAsianBankingAward2005awardedFirstWomenBankLimited,FWBL/ILOIPECMicroCredit
ProgrammeasRunnersUpinitsMicroFinanceProgrammecategory.Underthisproject,oneofthe
borrowersreceivedtheGlobalMicroEntrepreneurshipAward(Runnersup)organizedbytheUN
CapitalDevelopmentFundincollaborationwithCITIGroupFoundation,HarvardBusinessSchooland
PakistanPovertyAlleviationFund.
InPakistan,whencomparedwithothercountriesoftheworld,femaleentrepreneurshipisamongstthe
lowestintheworld.Withverylowfemaleparticipationintheeconomyofthecountry,thepercentageof
femaleemployersisevenlessthanonepercent.Theissuesstemsfromthestatisticalinvisibilityof
women.Theresverylittleresearchonthemarketitself,primarilybecausewomenarejustnot
consideredamarketworthtappingintoontheirown.
Evenatthemacrolevel,thereareveryfewpeopleworkingtoempowerwomenasaspecialinterest
group.Thisismainlybecausenoextensiveresearchorstudyhasbeendonesofaronwomens
economicrole.
Realizingtheimportanceofresearch,FWBLcommissionedSPDCtoconductaMarketAssessment
StudyforFirstWomenBank.ThestudygavesurprisingresultsandrevealedthatCreditdemandof
womeninfivebigcitiesofthecountryrangedbetweenRs.261BilliontoRs.285Billion.
Sinceitsinception,FWBLhascontributedsubstantiallyinraisingasizeablebodyofwomen
entrepreneursandbankingprofessionalsinthecountry.Forexample,thetotalproportionofwomen
bankersinthecommercialbanksisaround10%ofthetotalbankers,whichwaslessthan1%around23
yearsago.
FWBLisfullycommittedtothegoalofrealizingthepotentialofwomenasactiveparticipantsinthe
economicdevelopmentofPakistanbyfacilitatingtheiraccesstoentrepreneurialactivitiesandformal
employment.RecentlythebankhassetupanEntrepreneurshipDevelopmentDivisionatHeadoffice,
KarachiandthreeBusinessDevelopment&TrainingCentersarefunctioninginKarachi,Lahore&
Islamabad.ToenhancewomensentrepreneurialcapabilityFWBLhassignedMOUswithSMEDA,
NIDA,TextileInstituteofPakistan,PakistanInstituteofTourismandHotelManagement,Departmentof
YouthAffairsGovernmentofSindh,UNIDO,AllamaIqbalOpenUniversityandIslamabadWomen
ChamberofCommerceandIndustry.
In2011theAuratFoundationawardedagrantofRs.13.8milliontoFWBLundertheGenderEquity
Programme(GEP)supportedbyUSAIDforaperiodoftwoyears.Todate,400womenhave
successfullyparticipatedinthetrainingsofferedatBD&TCKarachiandLahoreCenters.

FWBLATMcardwithMultipleBenefit
Inordertoprovidemultiplebenefitstocustomersthebankhascollaboratedwithtopbrandsincluding
OxfordUniversityPress,KFC,Stile,SingerandDepilex.NowFWBLATMcardholderscanget
discountsontheirpurchases.

CorporateSocialResponsibility
FWBLhasalwayslookedoutforthebestinterestofthewomenofPakistan.Fromeconomic
empowermenttofinancialassistance,FWBLhasalwaysputwomenattheforefrontsoftheirefforts.
TakinganothersteptowardsthewellbeingofthewomenofPakistan,FWBLhasjoinedhandswithPink
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RibbonPakistantopromotethenobleobjectiveofPinkRibbonPakistaninprovidingcancerawareness
amongwomen.
FWBLinPublicSector
FWBLwasformedwithshareholdingsfromallthelargepublicsectorbanks.Overtime,thesebanks
wereprivatizedhowever,theirsharesinFWBLwerenottransferredtothepublicsector.In2009,the
GovernmentofPakistandecidedtokeepFirstWomenBankLtd.(FWBL)inthepublicsectorby
purchasingthesharesofprivateshareholderbanksi.e.MCB,HBL,ABLandUBLthroughStateBankof
Pakistan.AnamountofRs.800millionwasbudgetedinconnectionwiththeinjectionofadditionalequity
bytheGovernmentofPakistantoFirstWomenBankLimited(OutofRs.800Million600millionhas
beeninjected).Inlightofthisdecisionthemajorityofshares(96%)areownedbytheMinistryof
Finance,GovernmentofPakistanandNationalBankofPakistan.
TheGovernmentofPakistanvidesitsletterNo.F.4(1)DS(BRII)/2000556datedNovember4,2011
hasexemptedFWBLfromtheapplicationoftheOfficeMemorandumNo.F.4.(1)/2000BRII,dated12
November2002.UnderthesaidofficeMemo,Governmentlaiddowncertainrequirementstobe
compliedwithbypublicsectorenterprisesandlocal/autonomousbodieswhiledepositingtheirworking
balancesfortheiroperationswithanypublicorprivatebank.

BrandoftheYear2010&2011
FWBLinitiativesfortheempowermentofwomenwererecognizedatalllevelsandthebankreceived
theBrandoftheyearaward2010&2011inthecategoryofwomenbanking.
ThebankisalsoliveonSWIFTtotransferfundsinternationally.Atpresent,theBankhasanetworkof
41branchesin24citiesofPakistan.
Today,FWBLsmissionforempoweringwomenremainsunmatched.
Totransformthestatusofwomenfrompassivebeneficiariesofsocialservicestodynamicagentsof
change.

ChiefExecutive:

Mrs.ShafqatSultana
President/CEO/Chairperson
FirstWomenBankLimited

ThePresident,CEOandChairpersonoftheBoardofDirectorsofFirstWomenBankLtd.,Mrs.Shafqat
Sultana,isaprudentbankerandachieverparexcellence.Mrs.Sultanahasabout36yearsofbanking
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servicetohercredit,outofwhich,shehasdedicated20longyearstoFirstWomenBankLtd.
ShewasappointedasthePresidentofFirstWomenBankLtd.intheyear2009.Soonaftertaking
charge,Mrs.Sultanamadeeveryefforttorestorethepublicsectorstatusofthebank.Inthesameyear,
shesucceededinhermissionwhentheGovernmentdecidedtokeepFWBLasapublicsectorbank.
HavingdoneherMastersinPoliticalSciencefromtheUniversityofPeshawar,ShafqatSultanastarted
herbankingcareerasanofficeratUnitedBankLtd.in1975.ShewasdesignatedthefirstLady
ManageratPCbranchRawalpindiin1988.
ShejoinedFirstWomenBankLtdin1990asaBranchManagerinAVPcadre,andwasawardedthe
bestBranchManagerawardfortwoconsecutiveyears.Besidesthis,sheusedherexpertiseintraining
&developmentofwomenentrepreneursandservedastheNationalProjectDirectorWomeninUrban
Credit,ajointprojectofUNDPandFWBL.ShewaseventuallypromotedtotherankofEVPin2002and
thenPresidentoftheBank.
Shehasbeenakeyspeakeronnumerousnationalandinternationalforumsandhasaddressedinthe
SenateandParliamentonwomensocioeconomicconcerns.
Mrs.ShafqathasbeentherecipientofBestSectorExecutiveAward,ExcellenceAwardfromLaurelsof
honor2009,WomanoftheyearAward2009,LifetimeAchievementAward2010andWonder
WomanoftheyearAward2011etc.Shealsoholdstohercreditmanypublicationsaswell.
RecentlyNewsweekPakistanincludedhernameinthelistoftop100womenwhoshakePakistan.

KeyManagement:
CharmaineHidayatullah
HeadofLegal&Security,&Stationery/EVP
Ms.CharmaineHidayatullahjoinedtheFirstWomenBankLtdin1989asLegalAdvisorandChiefof
LegalDepartment.ShealsoremainedFederalNomineeDirectorofFWBLfrom1991to1994.In1994
shewaspromotedtothecadreofSVP,sincethensheheldseveralimportantportfoliossuchas
MemberofExecutiveCommittee,HeadofBusinessCentre,HeadofSecurityDepartment,Headof
PublicityandPublicRelationsandHeadofHumanResourcesDepartment.Sheplaysthekeyrolein
recoveryofstuckupfinancesoftheBankthroughCourtandnegotiationswithdefaultingBorrowers/
JudgmentDebtors,SyndicateFinancing,andmatterspertainingtolegaloperationsofthebank.
ShehasdoneherMastersinLawfromS.M.LawCollege,KarachiandspecializesinCompanyLaw.
ShestartedhercareerasapracticingLawyerinCivilandHighCourtsofSindhwheresheconducted
severalindependentcasesrelatedtoBanking,CorporateandCivilLawintheCourtsandBanking
Tribunals.SheservedasLegalAdvisorforvariousdomesticandforeigncompanies.Since1981,sheis
alsotheVicePresidentStatusofWomenofUnitedNationsSectionofallPakistanWomenAssociation.
ShehasalsoservedasHonoraryGeneralSecretaryofPakistanRedCrescentSocietyappointedby
GovernmentofPakistan.

ShawanaYamin
HeadofInternationalDivision&CompanySecretary

MohammadKhalid
Treasurer
Mr.MohammadKhalidjoinedthebankinAugust2010asTreasurer,bringingwithhimmorethan
fourteenyearsrichexperienceandexpertiseofTreasury&Investments,DebtandAssetManagement
ofbanksandfinancialinstitutionsinPakistan.
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HislastassignmentwaswithVectorGroupinInvestmentAdvisoryBoardasaconsultantand
InvestmentStrategist.BeforethishehasservedIGIInvestmentBankasEVP/HeadTreasury
ManagementandSMEBankasSVP/HeadTreasuryDivision.HestartedhiscareerfromTreasury
GroupofNationalBankofPakistanandgotenormousexposureduetoitsinnatelargestbooksizein
PakistaninrespectofTreasuryactivitiesandinvestmentbankingprojectsasspecialassignments.
MovingtoPakKuwaitInvestmentCompanyasaDealingUnitHeadandALCOSecretary,heboosted
upcompanysearningssignificantlywithinayear.HeremainedquiteinstrumentalatUnitedBanks
Treasury&CapitalMarketsGroupengagedinportfoliomanagement,interestratetrading,and
derivativehedgingandliquiditymanagementmakingUBLTreasuryasoneoftwomajormarketmakers
intheinterbankmarket.HealsorenderedhisservicetoUBLFundManagersasHeadFunds
ManagementandtoagroupofSaudiArabiaasaFundManagerforitsinvestmentsinPakistan.
ByqualificationheisanMBAfromIBA,UniversityofKarachi,diplomaedAssociateofInstituteof
BankersinPakistanandOracleCertifiedFinancialApplicationsConsultantfromOracleCorporation.

NaushabaShahzad
HeadofRiskManagement
Ms.NaushabaShahzad,HeadofRiskManagementhasdiversifiedbankingexperience.Sheisalso
headingtheFinancialServicesDesk.
ShehasdiversifiedandsuccessfulBankingexperienceof18yearswithFirstWomenBanklimited.She
istheonlyexecutiveofFWBLwhohasbeenawardedBestExecutiveoftheYearawardthriceforher
extraordinaryperformance.AlsoshewasawardedtheBestEmployeeoftheYearawardin2001.She
hasadistinguishedacademiccareer,hasdoneherMasterofScienceinStatisticsandstoodfirstinthe
university,wasawardedaGoldMedalbyPunjabUniversity.Anoutstandingstudentthroughouther
academiccareer,shewasalsogiventheNationalYouthTalentAppreciationAward.

KauserSafdar
CFO/HeadofFinance&Planning
Ms.KauserSafdarisanAssociatememberoftheInstituteofCharteredAccountantsofPakistan
(ICAP),andInstituteofPublicAccountantsofPakistan(APA).ShehasalsostudiedwithChartered
InstituteofManagementAccountants(CIMA)UK.
AsChiefFinancialOfficer,Ms.SafdarbringsdiversefinancialandbusinessexperiencetotheFirst
WomenBankLimited.Alongwithherconventionalrolesofmanagingbudgeting,financialandbusiness
planning,interfacingwiththefinancialcommunityandindustryregulators,sheplaysanimportantrolein
keyinitiativesbeingtakenbytheBank.SheisapartofvariousmanagementcommitteesoftheBank.
PriortojoiningFWBL,Ms.SafdarworkedforUnitedBankLimitedinvariouscapacitiesincluding,Head
ofFinancial&SBPReporting,FinancialControllerforRetailBankingGroup,IslamicBankingDivision,
AssetManagementGroup,andInvestmentBankingDivision,Headofendservicebenefitsanda
TrusteeofUBLEmployeeFunds.ShehasalsobeentheCFOofUBLFundsManager,aleadingmutual
fundofthecountry.
ShetakeskeeninterestinIslamicbanking,andscoreddistinctionintheIslamicbankingtrainingof
NIBAFSBP.ShehasalsoservedasHeadofUBLAmeenIslamicBankingDivisionofUBL.

YasminAdhami
HeadofCredit

ShaheenZamir
SVP/HeadofMarketing,PR/Spokesperson&WomenEntrepreneurship
Development
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Ms.ShaheenZamiristheHeadofMarketing,PR,andWomenEntrepreneurshipDevelopment.Sheis
alsothespokespersonoftheBank.MastersinCommerceandMastersinBusinessAdministration
(Marketing)andqualifiedfromtheInstituteofBankersPakistan,shehasarichexperienceinthefieldof
Marketing&PR,BusinessDevelopment,WomenDevelopment,HRandManagement.
ShestartedhercareerasanofficerwithFWBLandonthebasisofheroutstandingperformancein
2009shewasdesignatedasHeadofMarketing&PR.In2011WomenEntrepreneurshipDevelopment
wasestablishedbythebankandshebecamethefirstHeadoftheDivision.SheisalsotheprojectHead
ofFWBLGenderEquityProgramfundedbyUSAID.
Ms.Zamirisknownasaproactiveexecutive,teambuilderandtacticalplannerwiththeabilityto
attractandsecurekeyplayersinbuildingstrongandlastingbusinessrelationships.Shehasbeen
instrumentalingettingBanksinternationalandnationalrecognitionssuchastheGlobalMicro
EntrepreneurshipAward2005,BrandsoftheYearAward2011&2012,ConsumerChoiceAwardand
FPCCIAchievementAward20122013.
ShehasalsobeentherecipientofFWBLEmployeeoftheyearAward2002,WorkingLadyAward2003
byTareenPublications,forwhichshewasnominatedbythePresidentFWBL,FWBLYoungLeader
Award2005,FWBLExecutiveoftheYearAward2007,StarAward(SouthAsiaPublications)etc.inher
professionalcareer.
Besidesthis,shehasbeenadistinguishedPTVNewscaster,PBCBroadcaster,DJofFM101andhigh
profileAwardWinningCompere.
SheenjoystheuniquedistinctionofconductingvariousprestigiousprogramschairedbyPrimeMinisters
andFederalMinisterofPakistan,Governorsandotherdignitaries.Shegotnumerousawards,trophies,
goldmedalsandcommendationcertificatesforherbrilliantperformance.

ZahidaChanna
Off.HeadHR

FauziaSohail
Off.HeadofInformationTechnology
Ms.FauziaSohailjoinedFWBLinSept2011astheDeputyHeadofInformationTechnology.Agraduate
fromFASTNU,shebringswithher18+yearsofindepthexperienceinSoftwareApplicationsand
ManagementofInformationSystems.Herdiverseexposureintechnologyspansmultipleindustries,
withrolesatvariousseniorcapacities.Mostrecently,asamemberofthelocalteamattheleadingCore
BankingSystemsvendorintheinternationalmarket,FidelityInformationSystems(USA),shehadbeen
playingacrucialroleintheirsolutionimplementationatthenationslargestbank,NationalBankof
Pakistan.Ms.Sohailhasapassionfortechnology,beingastaunchbelieverthatITisanenablerin
business.WithexpertiseinDataDrivenventures,shehasledvariousBankLevelDataMigrationand
DataManagementinitiatives,withsignificantcontributionsinmoldingtheITlandscapeintherealmof
Banking.
Withherallroundedexperienceinthedomainoftechnology,Ms.Sohailisplayingacrucialrolein
strengtheningtheoverallITfunctionsatthebank,extendingbeyondensuringinformationsecurity,data
accuracyandtimelyavailabilityofinformationthatwouldfacilitatebetterdecisionmaking,to
streamliningITSupportandOperations,whileleveragingandbuildingupontheexistinginvestments
madebythebankinCoreBanking,NetworkingandCommunicationsInfrastructure,toenhancethe
servicequalitystandardsandreachtobankscustomerbaseviamultipledeliverychannels.

MehwishKhan
HeadofAudit&Inspection
Ms.MehwishKhanheadsFWBLInternalAuditDepartment,andreportstotheAuditCommitteeofthe
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BoardofDirectors.SheisaCertifiedCharteredAccount(ACCA)fromUK,holdsaBachelorinApplied
EconomicsfromtheUniversityofOxfordBrookesatUK,andisaCertifiedInternalAuditor(CIA)from
USA.
Ms.Khanhasnearly8yearsofexperienceinBankAuditandassurancewithglobalauditfirmsandone
ofthecountryslargestcommercialbanks.Priortohercurrentrole,sheservedatAlliedBankwhere
apartfromaudit,shecontributedeffectivelytowardsdevelopmentofRiskReviewteamscovering
variousbusinesslines.ShewasalsorecognizedforrevisingABLsAuditManualintroducingtherein
RiskBasedAuditTechniques.AsInchargeofInternalAuditDivisionatFirstWomenBankLtd,sheis
concernedwithattainingoptimalinternalcontrols,bestofclassriskbasedauditpractices,positiveand
constructiveauditapproach,highcompliancestandards,andademonstrablysuperiorethicalbehavior
traditionwithintheorganization.

ZarinaSial
HeadCompliance
Ms.ZarinaSialjoinedFirstWomenBankLtd.,inMarch1996.CurrentlysheisheadingCompliance
DivisionandliaisonwithSBP.SheisalsoamemberofITSteeringCommitteeandChairpersonof
ComplianceCommittee.
Ms.SialcompletedDAIBPintheyear2000.Shehasmorethan16yearsexperienceinBranchBanking
Management.Ms.SialsetuptheComplianceDivisioninFWBLintheyear2010bydeveloping
manuals,proceduresatHeadOfficeandRegionallevel.Sheisproficientinplanninganddeveloping
strategies,evaluatingcontrolguidelines,analyzingorganizationscriticalsupportrequirements.

AmeenaFarooq
HeadofAdministration

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