Interview with Adil Salahuddin, CEO and Head of Coverage – Standard Chartered Pakistan

Adil Salahuddin, Chief Executive Officer and Head of Coverage at Standard Chartered Pakistan, has shared insights about the bank's enduring commitment to the Pakistani market. With more than three decades of experience, Salahuddin has worked across various roles in the financial sector, including in Pakistan, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia.

Before becoming CEO, he held the position of Head of Coverage, Pakistan, and led the bank's Markets business in Pakistan before relocating to Dubai in 2021 to oversee Corporate Sales across the Middle East, Pakistan, and Africa.

Salahuddin attributes Standard Chartered's persistence in Pakistan to the bank's deep understanding of the market, which has evolved alongside the country's economic journey over 163 years. The bank has continuously adapted by investing in digital capabilities, enhancing its client proposition, and focusing on areas that create the most value for clients and the broader economy.

Today, Standard Chartered offers a diverse range of products and services, including credit cards, mortgages, corporate lending, trade finance, foreign exchange, dollar clearing, and financial institutions banking.

The CEO highlighted the significance of Pakistan's robust banking sector and the country's ongoing integration into regional and global trade and investment flows. Despite periods of volatility, Salahuddin believes Pakistan's relevance in the changing global landscape will only grow. He pointed out that supply chains, trading relationships, and investment corridors are shifting, and Pakistan's role within this landscape is expected to become more significant.

When discussing how Standard Chartered competes with local banks that traditionally generated substantial earnings from government securities and sovereign lending, Salahuddin emphasized the bank's differentiated approach. While not a major player in local currency government lending, the bank has focused on international and cross-border banking. This includes a healthy and growing advance-to-deposit ratio, a burgeoning retail mortgage portfolio, and a robust corporate lending book.

Salahuddin pointed out that a key trend shaping the global economy is the evolution of international trade corridors, with economies in the Global South becoming large enough to foster South-South investment and trade partnerships. The bank has observed increased interest from markets such as Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and China, while some large Pakistani corporations are looking for opportunities beyond Pakistan.

This aligns with Standard Chartered's strengths, as the bank operates in 55 markets, including emerging and frontier economies, helping international investors navigate Pakistan and assisting Pakistani companies in accessing opportunities overseas.