Karachi: Shareholders of Askari Bank Limited convened for their 34th Annual General Meeting on March 17, 2026, passing a series of resolutions pivotal to the bank’s operations for the upcoming year.

During the meeting, held in compliance with the regulations of the Pakistan Stock Exchange Limited, shareholders confirmed the minutes of the previous annual meeting, which took place on March 24, 2025. The assembly also approved the bank’s consolidated and unconsolidated annual audited financial statements for the year ending December 31, 2025, alongside the Chairman’s Review Report, Directors’ Report, and the Auditors’ Reports.

A significant outcome of the meeting was the approval of a final cash dividend of Rs. 1.75 per share, translating to a 17.50% payout for the financial year concluded on December 31, 2025. This is in addition to the interim cash dividends already disbursed at Rs. 3.25 per share, amounting to 32.50%. The Chief Financial Officer and the Company Secretary have been authorized to manage all formalities related to the dividend payment process.

Furthermore, M/s. A. F. Ferguson & Co., Chartered Accountants, were appointed as statutory auditors for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026. Their total fee has been set at Rs. 26.50 million, exclusive of out-of-pocket expenses and applicable taxes.

According to information available from the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX), the meeting also saw the unopposed election of several directors, including Lt. Gen. Anwar Ali Hyder, HI (M) (Retd), Mr. Jahangir Piracha, and others, for a three-year term starting March 17, 2026. The appointment is pending approval from the State Bank of Pakistan. The President & Chief Executive Officer of the bank shall serve as a deemed director as per the bank’s Articles of Association and the Companies Act, 2017.

This series of resolutions ensures that Askari Bank Limited is well-positioned to uphold its strategic and financial goals in the coming years, maintaining its commitment to shareholders and the market at large.