The UAE’s International Holding Company Purchased First Women Bank.

According to reports on Friday 17th of October 2025, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) International Holding Company has “successfully” completed the transaction to purchase “85%” of First Women Bank Limited’s shares in Pakistan.

In accordance with the “Inter-Governmental Commercial Transactions Act, 2022”, negotiations are presently underway between the “Government of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and First Women Bank Limited (FWBL)”, which was established in “1989 and is 82.64%” owned by the Government of Pakistan.

According to specifics, the UAE government has shown a great desire to increase the size of its investment holdings in Pakistan. A agreement has reportedly been agreed for the UAE’s International Holding Company (IHC) to purchase “84%” of First Women Bank Limited’s (FWBL) shares for “$14.6 million, or roughly Rs4.1 billion”.

After fruitful government-to-government (G2G) talks between Pakistan and the UAE, the gain was finalized. According to additional sources, the formal signing of the acquisition deal for First Women Bank is scheduled for today. The sale has already received preliminary clearance from the special cabinet committee, which is led by the deputy prime minister.

Additionally, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s federal cabinet has also approved the deal.

“An important step in the Government-to-Government (G2G) privatization process was taken earlier this month when the Pakistani Privatization Commission (PC) Board suggested a reminder price to the Cabinet Committee on Inter-Governmental Commercial Transactions (CCoIGCT) for the privatization of First Women Bank Limited (FWBL).”