Bank Alfalah Exits Afghanistan After 20 Years, Sells Branches to Ghazanfar Bank
Bank Alfalah exits Afghanistan: sale of its Kabul and Herat branches to Ghazanfar Bank was completed on 5 November 2026. Timeline and approvals.
Bank Alfalah has exited Afghanistan: the sale of its Afghan business to Ghazanfar Bank was completed on 5 November 2026, ending about 20 years of operations in the country, according to the bank’s filing to the Pakistan Stock Exchange.
The deal covers Bank Alfalah’s branches in Kabul and Herat along with their assets and liabilities. The bank said it has stopped banking operations in Afghanistan and will close the branches under regulatory rules.
Bank Alfalah Afghanistan exit: timeline
| Date | Step |
|---|---|
| 2005 | Bank Alfalah opens in Kabul, later adds a Herat branch |
| December 2025 | Board accepts a non-binding offer from Ghazanfar Bank |
| January 2026 | SBP and Afghanistan’s central bank allow due diligence |
| 5 November 2026 | Sale completed; Afghan operations end |
Approvals
The transaction was approved by the State Bank of Pakistan and Da Afghanistan Bank, Afghanistan’s central bank, and all other conditions were met. The sale price has not been disclosed.
Why it matters
Bank Alfalah offered both conventional and Islamic banking in Afghanistan. Its exit follows a broader slimming of its overseas footprint; shareholders also approved the sale of its Bangladesh operations earlier in 2026. For Pakistani investors, the move lets the bank focus on its home market, where digital payments and SME lending are growing. See related business news on Pakistan’s digital payments push and the latest SBP reserves.
Frequently asked questions
Who bought Bank Alfalah’s Afghan business?
Ghazanfar Bank of Afghanistan.
Does this affect Bank Alfalah customers in Pakistan?
No. The sale covers only the Afghan branches in Kabul and Herat.
Sources: Business Recorder (6 November 2026), citing the PSX filing; Profit on the Bangladesh sale.
