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Askari Commercial Bank Limited
Annual Report 2000
CONTENTS
Corporate Information
A Glimpse of Steady Growth
Notice of Annual General Meeting
Directors' Report
Auditors' Report to the Members
Balance Sheet
Profit & Loss Account
Statement of Changes in Financial Position
Notes to the Accounts
Annexure-1
Pattern of Shareholding
Correspondent Network
Branch Network
CORPORATE INFORMATION
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Lt. Gen. Ali Muhammad Jan Aurakzai
Chairman
Lt. Gen. (R) Mohammad Afsar
Mr. Kalim-ur-Rahman
President & Chief Executive
Brig. (R) Muhammad Shiraz Baig
Brig. (R) Ikram-ul-Hasan
Brig. (R) Asmat Ullah Khan Niazi
Brig. (R) Muhammad Safdar Ali
Mr. Javed Ahmed Noel
Mr. Zafar Alam Khan Sumbal
Secretary
Mr. Shahid Hafeez Azmi
Mr. Sultan Ahmed Abbasi
Mr. Istaqbal Mehdi
(NIT Nominee)
AUDITORS
Taseer Hadi Khalid & Co.
Chartered Accountants
LEGAL ADVISORS
Afridi Angell & Khan
REGISTERED OFFICE/HEAD OFFICE
AWT Plaza, The Mall,
P.O. Box No. 1084,
Rawalpindi-Pakistan.
Tel: (051) 5518117-20
Fax: (051) 5563704
Web Site: www.askaribank.com.pk
REGISTRAR & SHARE TRANSFER OFFICE
Askari Associates (Private) Limited,
6th Floor, AWT Plaza, The Mall,
P.O. Box 678, Rawalpindi.
Tel: (051) 5514370-71, 5516108
Fax: (051) 5516109
E-Mail: askari@isb.compol.com
NOTICE OF THE NINTH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
Notice is hereby given that the 9th Annual General Meeting of Askari Commercial
N Bank Limited will be held on Tuesday, 27th March, 2001 at 09:30 hours in Blue
Lagoon Complex opposite outward gate of Pearl Continental Hotel, Rawalpindi to transact
the following business:-
ORDINARY BUSINESS
1. To confirm the minutes of the 8th Annual General Meeting held on 27 March, 2000.
2. To receive, consider and adopt the audited accounts together with Directors' and
Auditors' Reports thereon for the year ended December 31, 2000.
3. To consider and approve dividend as recommended by the Directors of the Company
as follows:
a. Cash Dividend at Rs. 1.50 per share i.e. 15% for the year ended December
31, 2000.
b. Five bonus shares for every hundred shares i.e. 5% by capitalization of Share
Premium Account to the same extent.
4. To appoint Auditors of the Bank for the year ending December 31, 2001 and to fix
their remuneration.
5. Any other business with the permission of the Chair.
By order of the Board
Rawalpindi Zafar Alam Khan Sumbal
February 12, 2001 Company Secretary
NOTES
1. The Share Transfer Books of the Bank will remain closed from March 18 to March
27, 2001 (both days inclusive). Transfers received at M/s Askari Associates (Private)
Limited, 6th Floor, AWT Plaza, The Mall, Rawalpindi, the Registrar and Share Transfer
Office of the Bank at the close of the business on 17 March, 2001 will be treated
in time for purpose of the entitlement of cash dividend and bonus shares (DW-4
& B-5) to the transferees.
2. A member entitled to attend and vote at the meeting is entitled to appoint a proxy
to attend, speak and vote for him/her. Vote may be given either personally or by proxy
or in case of a Company/Corporation by a representative duly authorized. A proxy
must be a member of the Company. In order to be valid, an instrument of proxy
and the power of attorney or other authority (if any) under which it is signed, or
a notarially certified copy of such power of attorney, must be deposited at the
registered office of the Bank, AWT Plaza, The Mall, Rawalpindi, not less than 48
hours before the time of the meeting.
3. CDC shareholders entitled to attend and vote at this meeting must bring his/her
original NIC or Passport alongwith the participants' ID numbers and account numbers
to prove his/her identity. In case of proxy, must enclose an attested copy of his/her
NIC or Passport. Representative of corporate members should bring the usual
documents required for such purpose.
4. Shareholders are requested to promptly notify the change of address, if any, to our
Registrar, M/s Askari Associates (Private) Limited.
DIRECTORS' REPORT
Dear Shareholders,
We are pleased to present to you the 9th Annual Report of Askari Commercial Bank
Limited, along with the Audited Accounts and Auditor's Report thereon, for the year ended
31st December, 2000.
THE ECONOMY
Pakistan's economy grew by 4.8% during the year 2000, primarily
due to a healthy growth of 7.2% in the Agriculture Sector, which
partly made up for the Manufacturing Sector's poor growth of 1.1%
and Services Sector's growth of only 4.5%, against year 2000 targets
of 5.0%, 4.3%, 5.8% and 5.1% respectively.
The Pakistani Rupee was allowed to float freely in July, 2000 and the State Bank of Pakistan
(SBP) had to tighten its monetary policy thereafter in order to support the currency. In October,
2000 the Cash Reserve Requirement for Banks was increased by 2%, to 7%, resulting in an
outflow of Rs. 24 billion from the Banking Sector. Simultaneous increases in SBP's rediscount
rate from 11% p.a. to 13% p.a. and Treasury Bill auction rates from around 7% p.a. to 11%
p.a. resulted in the tightening of the money supply and strengthening of the Rupee. Resumption
of assistance from the International Financial Institutions and re-scheduling of a part of Pakistan's
foreign debt, has also provided some stability to the Rupee.
Despite a bumper cotton crop (11.4 M bales) in the 1999-2000 season, export revenues did
not increase as much as expected due to a collapse in the international cotton prices (Cotton
and cotton products' export revenues were 1999: US$ 5.0 billion, 2000: US$ 5.7 billion). Although
wheat and edible oil imports decreased during 2000, the doubling of international oil prices
increased value of petroleum imports from US$ 1.5 billion to US$ 2.8 billion.
Pakistan's Exports of US$ 8,163 million during the year, against Imports of US$ 9,598 million
contributed towards the worsening of the Foreign Exchange Reserves Position, from US$ 1.7
billion as at 30th June, 1999 to US$ 1.3 billion for fiscal year end 2000.
During the year 2000, Pakistan's debt burden worsened to 59.0%
of its GDP, as US$ 7.8 billion accrued for debt re-payment in
2000, but only US$ 3.7 billion could be re-paid and the balance
of about US$ 4.0 billion required re-scheduling. The debt burden
is expected to increase further to 62.1% of the GDP in 2001,
because of, inter alia, the continuing budget deficit which stood
at 6.5% of GDP at end fiscal 2000 (1999: 6.1%).
Overall - Pakistan's economy remained under pressure during 2000, despite some improvement
and stability over 1999. However, resumption of assistance from the International Financial
Institutions and re-scheduling of foreign debt near the year end, offers grounds for optimism.
OPERATING RESULTS OF THE BANK
Despite the challenges facing the economy, your Bank's pre-tax & pre-
provision profits increased from Rs. 814 million in 1999 to Rs. 887 million
in 2000. To off-set the much reduced market spreads/margins arising
from the intense competition between banks for the limited good risk
business available, your Bank had to market aggressively for additional
business to increase volumes. Consequently, the Deposits grew by Rs.
6.002 billion (24.6%), to cross the Rs 30 billion mark, Loans and
Advances increased by Rs. 4.836 billion (37.0%), from Rs. 13.056 billion, to Rs. 17,893
billion, and total Balance Sheet footings crossed Rs. 37 billion, thereby registering a
healthy growth of 20.1% over the preceding year. Hence your Bank's business recorded
a substantial growth during the year 2000, under very difficult circumstances.
The net fund-based earnings increased by 6.7% from Rs. 864.3 million in 1999 to Rs. 921.9
million in 2000. This was achieved, despite the rate volatility, by an effective management of,
and a reduction in, the cost of funds, to off-set the impact of the reduced gross fund-based
earnings arising from the reduced markup rates during the year.
The Bank tried to maximize fee based earning opportunities, in order to proactively reduce the
potential impact of reduced margins / spreads. Consequently, the non-fund-based earnings
of the Bank increased by 19.7% from Rs. 538.7 million in 1999 to Rs. 644.7 million in 2000.
Your Bank invested in its future by incurring staff and other costs pertaining to new branches,
Credit Cards business, new Retail Banking products, and Management Training programs, to
enhance the income generation capacity of the Bank in the coming year(s). Hence, the increased
costs are basically an investment for the future.
It was also considered prudent to increase, where appropriate, the
provisions against some non-performing loans, as also the general
provisions. Despite this, Provisions against non-performing advances
decreased, as a percentage of total Loans and Advances, from 0.78%
last year, to 0.75% for the year 2000.
As a result, the Profit before Tax increased from Rs. 712.4 million
for 1999 to Rs. 751.6 million for the year 2000.
After accounting for the taxes, the Profit for the year stood at Rs. 315.6 million, an increase of
11.8% over the preceding year (1999: Rs. 282.4 million). Consequently, the earnings per share
increased from Rs. 2.86 per share in 1999 to Rs. 3.20 per share for the year 2000.
CREDIT RISK MANAGEMENT
Your Bank's Credit Division is responsible for efficient and effective identification, control and
management of credit risks, through sound and prudent lending policies. Its aim is to develop
a balanced and a well diversified good risk portfolio of remunerative and productive loans and
advances.
We remain focussed on reducing the risk profile of the Bank. This is being done by greater
diversification of the credit portfolio and, inter alia, a move towards higher-yielding Personal
Finance products. Our traditional emphasis remains on short-term self-liquidating trade finance
transactions. There is an increased focus on improved risk management in general, through,
inter alia, an improved MIS to facilitate a more effective monitoring of the credit portfolio, with
a special emphasis on effectively managing remedial accounts rooted in the past.
FOREIGN TRADE
We continue to enhance our leadership position in the Trade Finance
area, which has been the traditional "bread & butter" business for
us, and in which we have a proven track record of excellence.
Your Bank's Import business grew by 49.7% from Rs. 17.5 billion during 1999 to Rs.
26.2 billion in 2000. At the same time, the Export business increased by 34.2%, from
Rs. 22.8 billion to Rs. 30.6 billion.
TREASURY
The year 2000 witnessed considerable mark-up / interest rate volatility, along with further
depreciation of the Rupee vis-a-vis the U.S. Dollar due to:
a) the impact of the increase in the US$ LIBOR and Treasury Bill rates, b) the free float of US$/
Pak rupee in the inter-bank market, c) removal of the trading band between Buy / Sell for the
customers, and d) very low money market rates for most of the year.
The money market rates remained depressed till almost the end of the third quarter, when the
State Bank of Pakistan suddenly started increasing the relevant bench-mark rates. This tightening
of the money market resulted in further reducing the profitability of the
banking industry due to the time lag involved in suitably adjusting the
investment portfolios and passing on the increased cost of funds to the customers.
The market expectations for the year 2001 for the money market rates
remain more or less at the same level as at the year end 2000. A somewhat tight monetary
policy is expected to keep in check any steep fall of the Rupee, notwithstanding any unforeseen
developments in the fiscal policies.
CORPORATE & MERCHANT BANKING
Corporate Banking Division, which became an independent unit in April 1999, with a
portfolio of about Rs. 2.5 billion, had approved limits and disbursements in excess of
Rs. 7.5 billion and Rs. 6.3 billion respectively, as at end 2000. It now has a Unit operating
in Karachi, to market and service Karachi-based customers more effectively.
During the year 2000, your Bank successfully co-arranged a syndicated loan facility of Rs. 4
billion for National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) for the creation of a national
database warehouse. This is reportedly the second largest syndication in the history of Pakistan
and the first in which your Bank is the Agent as well as the Lead Bank.
RETAIL BANKING
During the year 2000, the Bank organised a Retail Banking Group, and by the end of the year
was successful in launching innovative consumer banking products developed to meet individual
customer needs. This business is expected to grow during 2001, and will add a new dimension
to your Bank's business profile. It will also improve the sustainability of our earnings, by increasing
our focus on generating relatively low cost deposits and new high-yielding Personal Finance
products.
In addition, we have revived our car financing scheme, "AsKar", and built up a healthy portfolio
of over Rs. 55 million in less than 3 months.
New deposit products such as the Askari Bank's Value Plus - an innovative Saving and Term
Deposit Scheme, have also been launched successfully.
ELECTRONIC BANKING
Electronic Technology Division has been constantly striving to provide enhanced value and added
features in the existing and new products and services to our customers.
Additional facilities are planned to be made available shortly, through our Internet Banking
initiative. These will further increase the existing range of technology related products such as:
AskCash (24 hours ATM Services), AskNet (On-line Inter-branch Banking Facilities), Askari link
(Automated Telephone Banking Facility), etc.
For the sake of increasing customer convenience, your Bank has also entered into an ATM
switch sharing arrangement with Habib Bank - an extension of the already existing arrangement
with ABN-Amro Bank. Consequently, your Bank's customers can now avail the services of the
Habib Bank & ABN Amro Bank ATMs, just as those of Askari Bank, thus giving them more
convenient options.
In the last Annual Report we had mentioned that we would be going live as a SWIFT (Society
for Worldwide Inter-bank financial Telecommunications) member Bank. This has been achieved
and your Bank's SWIFT code is ASCMPKKA, which can be quoted along with your relevant
account number, and the branch, whenever you want any funds remitted to your account from
abroad, particularly from any SWIFT member bank worldwide.
Your Bank wants to move to a "paper-less environment", to the
maximum extent possible, in due course of time. In order to achieve
this, we plan to automate entire processes and not just the transactions,
or part thereof.
Your Bank now has a new web-page at "askaribank.com.pk", which
has received the international Golden Web Page award.
CREDIT CARDS
Your Bank had initially launched Credit Cards by using another
bank and its systems, as a third party processor. However, we
faced serious problems with that arrangement, and have therefore
shifted to our own in-house Card Processing System (Genesys).
Our Master Card MIP (Member Interface Processor) - used for
clearing, payments and settlement purposes - is now working successfully. Since your Bank is
no longer dependent on a third party processor in providing Cards services, our service level
is expected to improve greatly.
MARKETING & CUSTOMER SERVICE
You must have noticed the increased press coverage and advertising being done to create and
effectively market your Bank's Corporate, as well as Product / Brand Image.
New banking products offered by your Bank are being increasingly "Branded", in order to
emphasize product (Brand) differentiation, create Brand recognition, enhance Branch demand
and ensure Brand loyalty.
Anonymous checks of customer service standards at branches are being done, in order to identify
areas which require improvement, particularly in customer service standards, and to identify
staff training needs.
HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
Your Bank has increased its focus on providing in-house training to staff. The Training & Research
Wing has been beefed up and is now in the process of actively conducting training sessions
all year round to enhance professionalism and employee development.
Increased Job Rotation and Job Enrichment and other initiatives are underway to enhance Staff
satisfaction, which will no doubt translate into better customer service.
CREDIT RATING
The Pakistan Credit Rating Agency (Pvt.) Ltd. (PACRA), an affiliate of
FITCH IBCA Ltd., U.K., has upgraded the Bank's long term entity rating
from A+ to AA-, while maintaining the short term rating at AI+, which
is the highest possible in this category.
According to PACRA, "the rating upgrade recognizes the demonstrated
capacity of ACBL's management to manage risk, as well as its strong ability to mobilise resources".
Furthermore, "these ratings denote a very strong capacity for the timely payment of financial
commitments".
BRANCH NETWORK
Your Bank currently has 29 branches spread over the major
cities of Pakistan. During the year 2000, a new branch was
opened in Quetta Cantt. Work is underway to open further
new branches. The Peshawar Road Branch in Rawalpindi
is expected to start operations in the first quarter of 2001,
and apart from tapping new sources of business and deposits, it will also help to reduce the
heavy load on our AWT Plaza Branch, thereby enabling us to improve further our standards
of service and customer satisfaction.
PROSPECTS FOR 2001
Pakistan's economy is expected to grow by a modest 4.5% during 2001 (2000: 4.8%), as the
Agriculture sector which did well in 2000, is likely to suffer from the estimated 31% shortage
of water supply.
The present Government is trying to widen the tax base to increase revenues, and is taking
various measures to increase exports. It is also trying to attract new foreign and domestic
investment by giving incentives, particularly in the areas of Oil & Gas, Textile modernization &
Information Technology.
The resumption of balance of payment and development assistance from the International
Financial Institutions and re-scheduling of Pakistan's foreign debt, has renewed confidence and,
despite the challenges facing the economy, provides room for cautious optimism.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
We would like to take this opportunity to thank our customers for giving us their patronage
and valuable business, to the State Bank of Pakistan and other regulatory authorities for their
guidance, to the employees of the Bank for their commitment and hard-work, and to the
shareholders of the Bank for the trust and confidence reposed in us.
For and on Behalf of the Board
Rawalpindi Lt. Gen. Ali Muhammad Jan Aurakzai
February 12, 2001 Chairman
AUDITORS REPORT FOR 2000
ASKARI COMMERCIAL BANK LIMITED
AUDITORS' REPORT TO THE MEMBERS
We have audited the annexed balance sheet of Askari Commercial Bank Limited ("the Bank") as
at 31 December 2000 and the related profit and loss account and the statement of changes in
financial position, together with the notes forming part thereof for the year then ended, in which
are incorporated the unaudited certified returns from the branches except for seven branches
which have been audited by us and we state that we have obtained all the information and
explanations which to the best of our knowledge and belief were necessary for the purposes of
our audit and after due verification thereof, found them satisfactory, and we report that:
(a) in our opinion proper books of account have been kept by the Bank as required by the
Companies Ordinance, 1984 and the returns referred to above received from the branches
have been found adequate for the purposes of our audit;
(b) in our opinion:
i) the balance sheet and profit and loss account together with the notes thereon have been
drawn up in conformity with the Banking Companies Ordinance, 1962 and the
Companies Ordinance, 1984, and are in agreement with the books of account and are
further in accordance with accounting policies consistently applied;
ii) the expenditure incurred during the year was for the purpose of the Bank's business; and
iii) the business conducted, investments made and tile expenditure incurred during the year
were in accordance with the objects of the Bank and the transactions of the Bank which
have come to our notice have been within the powers of the Bank;
c) in our opinion, and to the best of our information and according to the explanations given to
us, the balance sheet and the profit and loss account and the statement of changes in financial
position together with the notes forming part thereof give the information required by tile
Banking Companies Ordinance, 1962 and the Companies Ordinance, 1984, in the manner so
required and give a true and fair view of the state of the Bank's affairs as at 31 December
2000 and its true balance of the profit and the changes in financial position for the year then
ended; and
d) in our opinion, Zakat deductible at source under the Zakat and Ushr Ordinance, 1980, was
deducted by the Bank and deposited in the Central Zakat Fund established under section 7 of
that Ordinance.
ISLAMABAD TASEER HADI KHALID & CO.
February 12, 2001 CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS
BALANCE SHEET
as at December 31, 2000
2000 1999
Note (Rupees in '000) (Rupees in '000)
Assets
Cash 4 4,424,170 3,035,275
Balances with other banks 5 2,197,553 1,265,147
Money at call and short notice 1,900,000 2,910,000
Investments 6 8,569,619 8,678,879
Advances 7 17,892,567 13,056,146
Operating fixed assets 8 577,761 464,633
Capital work in progress 9 57,704 71,193
Other assets 10 1,629,981 1,545,572
------------------ ------------------
37,249,355 31,026,845
Liabilities
Deposits and other accounts 11 30,359,824 24,357,594
Borrowings from other banks, agents etc. 12 3,156,836 3,243,678
Bills payable 191,694 217,651
Other liabilities 13 1,159,763 891,219
Liabilities against assets subject to finance lease 14 41,683 37,282
Deferred liability for taxation 23.2 185,000 233,000
------------------ ------------------
35,094,800 28,980,424
------------------ ------------------
Net assets 2,154,555 2,046,421
Represented by:
Share capital 15 986,226 986,226
Reserve fund & other reserves 16 1,227,349 1,059,675
Un-appropriated profit 500 520
Shareholders' equity 17 2,214,075 2,046,421
Deficit on revaluation of governments securities 6 (59,520) --
------------------ ------------------
2,154,555 2,046,421
Memorandum Items:
Bills for collection 18 5,832,697</