First Women Bank Limited CEO and President Farrukh Iqbal Khan met Dr. Bakheet Ateeq Al-Remeithi, UAE Consul General in Karachi, to discuss opportunities for strengthening financial ties and enhancing banking services between Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates.
The meeting brought together senior representatives from Pakistan’s banking sector and the UAE diplomatic community in Karachi, with discussions focused on continued cooperation in financial services. According to First Women Bank Limited, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining collaboration and supporting stronger economic cooperation between the two countries.
The engagement comes as First Women Bank continues its operations under new ownership and management following its privatisation earlier in 2026. The bank stated that the Government of Pakistan transferred its shareholding and management control to EVE Holding RSC Limited, an affiliate of International Holding Company of the UAE, on April 15, 2026. The transaction marked a change in the bank’s ownership structure and established a direct connection with a UAE-based investment group.
The meeting between Farrukh Iqbal Khan and the UAE Consul General therefore takes place within a broader banking relationship involving institutions and stakeholders from both countries. Financial cooperation between Pakistan and the UAE covers banking services, investment activity, trade-related financial requirements and other areas of economic engagement, making dialogue between financial institutions and diplomatic representatives relevant to the development of these links.
For First Women Bank, discussions around banking services also come as the institution continues to operate with its longstanding focus on financial inclusion and economic participation. The bank was established by the Government of Pakistan in 1989 with a mission centred on promoting women’s financial inclusion and economic empowerment. Its current ownership structure includes EVE Holding RSC Limited, an affiliate of International Holding Company of the UAE.
The UAE has also become increasingly connected with Pakistan’s financial and investment landscape through institutional and business relationships. Engagement between banking leadership and diplomatic representatives can provide opportunities to discuss the practical requirements of cross-border financial activity and identify areas where banking services can support businesses and other economic participants.
During the Karachi meeting, the two sides reaffirmed their commitment to continued collaboration and stronger economic cooperation. The official communication did not provide details of any specific transaction, new banking product or formal agreement resulting from the discussion, keeping the engagement focused on financial ties, banking services and continued cooperation.
The meeting also adds to First Women Bank’s recent institutional developments following its transition to private ownership. The bank said its entity ratings were revised by PACRA in June 2026 to A for the long term and A1 for the short term, while continuing to operate as a commercial bank from its headquarters in Karachi.
The engagement between Farrukh Iqbal Khan and Dr. Bakheet Ateeq Al-Remeithi highlights the continued role of banking institutions in facilitating financial and economic connections between Pakistan and the UAE. For FWBL, the meeting provides an opportunity to maintain institutional dialogue with the UAE while exploring areas related to banking services and financial cooperation between the two countries.
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