KARACHI (March 11, 2011): In order to further expand the banking services across the country, banks
have planned to open 570 new branches under the expansion plan. Sources in the banking sector told
Business Recorder on Thursday that the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) under its Branch Licensing Policy
(BLP) has issued 570 licenses to banks, DFIs and Microfinance Banks to open new branches, sub-branches
and booths in calendar year 2011.
Although, this year banks plan to open 37 percent or 153 more branches as compared to 2009, however it is
still less than 2008, when highest-ever 730 branch or sub-branch licenses were issued by the State Bank in
any year. In 2010, the State Bank had issued 417 branch licenses.
