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

Business Recorder published an interview with Adil Salahuddin, chief executive and head of coverage at Standard Chartered Pakistan, a veteran of more than three decades in banking. He said the lender has been in the country for 163 years, weathering several economic and political cycles while investing in digital capabilities. By his account, the bank holds leading positions in cross-border trade, currency dealing, dollar settlement and lending to other banks, and also offers credit cards, mortgages and corporate loans.

Salahuddin said the bank differs from local lenders because its core business is international and cross-border banking, not local currency lending to the government. He pointed to growing South-South trade links, with interest from Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and China, and noted some large Pakistani groups are looking abroad. He also described the bank's global network as its main differentiator, citing foreign-currency liquidity support during the post-Covid squeeze and trade finance for exporters.

Salahuddin also outlined how the bank has adjusted to tighter foreign-exchange rules, using its own offshore liquidity, closer ties with exporters and the Pakistan Remittance Initiative. He said investor interest is returning, though longer-term corporate investors need stable and predictable policies. He concluded that stability should act as a base for lasting expansion, with the country's young population as a key advantage.