Bank of Balochistan
| Company type | Proposed provincial bank (commercial/government hybrid) |
|---|---|
| Founded | Approved August 2025; operational plan to be prepared within one week |
| Founder | Government of Balochistan |
| Headquarters | Quetta (presumed) , Pakistan |
Area served | Balochistan province |
Key people | Ashraf Mahmood Wathra, then Governor of State Bank of Pakistan (SBP); Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti (initiator); Finance Minister Mir Shoaib Nosherwani (oversight) |
| Products | Commercial, investment, and development banking (anticipated) |
| Parent | Government of Balochistan |
Bank of Balochistan is a proposed financial institution of the Government of Balochistan, Pakistan. The bank was first proposed in 2017 by Ashraf Mehmood Wathra, then Governor of State Bank of Pakistan (SBP).[1][2]
Establishment
The Bank of Balochistan was conceived to enhance banking facilities within the province and bolster the commercial banking sector's footprint.[2] The provincial administration has earmarked Rs1 billion from its coffers for the bank's inception.[3] The bank is slated to function as a commercial entity while also serving as a government bank.[4][5]
2025
On August 27, 2025, Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti announced Establishment of Bank of Balochistan .[6][7][8]
References
- ^ "Wathra proposes establishment of Balochistan Bank". Profit by Pakistan Today. March 22, 2017.
- ^ a b "Mar 21, 2017; Wathra wants banks to increase coverage in Balochistan". Dawn Epaper. March 21, 2017.
- ^ "Rs1b allocated for setting up Bank of Balochistan". The Express Tribune. July 3, 2021.
- ^ "Provincial govt sets aside Rs10b for establishment of Balochistan Bank". July 19, 2017.
- ^ "Govt plans to create Balochistan Bank". The Express Tribune. June 17, 2021.
- ^ APP (2025-08-27). "Plan to set up Bank of Balochistan okayed". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 2025-08-27.
- ^ Shahid, Saleem (2025-08-27). "Balochistan to have its own bank". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2025-08-27.
- ^ NNI (2025-08-27). "Establishment of Bank of Balochistan announced". Brecorder. Retrieved 2025-08-27.