Kashf Microfinance Bank Limited is a newly established microfinance bank with a major equity investment (51%) from Kashf Holdings (Pvt) Limited (KHL) and remaining by 4 international investors including International Finance Cooperation (19%), ShoreCap International Ltd. (10%), WWB Microfinance Equity Fund, L.P (10%), Triodos Fair Share Fund (5%) and Stitching Triodos Doen (5%).

Kashf Microfinance Bank Limited is based on the success of Kashf Foundation which is one of the leading microfinance institutions in Pakistan and has helped hundreds of thousands of families come out of poverty across Pakistan. Kashf Foundation was established in 1996 to replicate the Grameen Bank in Pakistan. Kashf Foundation has over 160 branches and has assisted over 850,000 families through its micro-credit programs.

Governor State Bank Dr. Shamshad Akhtar Inaugurated the First Branch
Governor State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), Dr. Shamshad Akhtar inaugurated the first branch of KMBL. in Lahore on December 2, 2008 in Dharampura. After opening of the branch, she addressed a gathering of eminent citizens, leaders of the social sector organizations and senior executives from the financial sector.

Dr Akhtar reiterated that organizations like KMBL will play a crucial role in changing the trend of rising poverty. She assured that SBP realizes the importance of the microfinance sector and will continue to support the growth of Microfinance Banks (MFBs) for the welfare of the nation.

She stated that no doubt there are various challenges but there are also numerous growth opportunities for the microfinance sector. SBP is committed to increasing the outreach and facilitating the growth of the microfinance sector. She said that they have set growth targets of increasing the number of microfinance borrowers to 3 million by the end of 2010 and 10 million by 2015.

Capacity Building for Women Entrepreneurs
KMBL in collaboration with TEVTA (Technical Education and Vocational Training Authority) successfully carried out the pilot phase of the vocational training for potential female clients of the bank. This program has been specially designed to enhance the financial and technical skills of our target market in order to help the women entrepreneurs in increasing their productivity, resulting in increased quality of life. The pilot phase of the project was launched in February 2009 and the students of this batch successfully graduated on March 9, 2009 after an intensive one month course on “Skills Development Training on Tailoring”. This training was provided to the clients free of cost.