Press Release
VIS Reaffirms Corporate Governance Rating of Allied Bank Limited
Karachi, October 13, 2026: VIS Credit Rating Company Limited (VIS) has reaffirmed the Corporate Governance Rating (CGR) of Allied Bank Limited (‘ABL’ or the ‘Bank’) at ‘CGR 9++’. The rating signifies very high level of corporate governance. The previous rating action was announced on November 18, 2025.
Allied Bank Limited incorporated in Pakistan, is a scheduled bank engaged in commercial banking and related services. The Bank is listed on the Pakistan Stock Exchange Limited. The Bank operates with 1,535 branches in Pakistan and its Head / Registered Office is located at Lahore.
ABL’s Corporate Governance Rating reflects the Bank’s established governance framework, supported by an experienced Board, structured committee oversight, and defined management reporting lines. The Board and its committees remained actively engaged in strategic oversight of financial planning and risk management, while succession planning and leadership development initiatives continued to support management continuity.
During the period under review, female representation enhanced to 25% of the Board size. Notably, all Members of the Board Audit Committee are independent directors, strengthening the quality of oversight. Further, out of total five Board Committees’, three Committees’ are chaired by Independent Directors.
Board participation remains excellent, and the diverse skill set of its members ensures comprehensive supervision. Both Board and its Committees’ meeting minutes are well-drafted. Besides, agenda items and related material are shared with Board Members in a timely manner to facilitate effective decision-making.
The Bank maintains a comprehensive risk management framework covering key risk areas, complemented by strengthened credit monitoring, operational risk reporting and enhanced information and cybersecurity controls. Internal audit and control functions have also been reinforced through independent assessment, greater automation and technology-enabled monitoring, while compliance processes continue to evolve through risk-based and automated AML, KYC, TBML and transaction-monitoring mechanisms.
The Bank has introduced multiple digital banking initiatives/ platforms that has significantly improved service delivery, enhanced customer experience and driven substantial growth in transaction volumes. It continues to develop Agentic AI capabilities for automation of various functions. In addition, ABL has successfully completed its Greenfield Tier-III Data Centre, which is now operational and serving as the Bank’s Disaster Recovery site. The Bank has also upgraded its Temenos T24 core banking system to enhance scalability, improve integration capabilities and support future product development. Cybersecurity, IT governance, and data protection measures further enhance the Bank’s resilience. These initiatives position ABL to effectively manage emerging cyber risks while leveraging growth opportunities.
Shariah governance remains well established, with oversight by the Shariah Board and dedicated compliance and internal audit functions supporting the Bank’s Islamic banking operations. The governance framework is further supported by structured stakeholder communication, regulatory compliance monitoring, transparent disclosures and initiatives relating to sustainability, financial inclusion and human capital development.
Overall, the Bank continues to demonstrate sound governance practices, effective oversight and a well-developed control environment which is also endorsed by awards from reputable international institutions such as Euromoney, Finance Asia etc.
For further information on this ratings announcement, please contact at 021-35311861-64 or email at info@vis.com.pk
Applicable Rating Criteria: Corporate Governance Ratings
https://docs.vis.com.pk/Methodologies-2026/Corporate-Governance-2026.pdf
VIS Issue/Issuer Rating Scale
https://docs.vis.com.pk/docs/VISRatingScales.pdf