Lahore, July 1 -- The Bank of Punjab (BOP) has been upgraded to a long-term entity rating of AAA from AA+ by The Pakistan Credit Rating (PACRA), with the shortterm rating held at A1+ and a Stable Outlook. BOP becomes the first and only provincial bank in Pakistan to achieve the nation's highest credit rating, a milestone built on a stronger deposit franchise, rising profitability and disciplined risk management.

The numbers tell the story. In 2025, BOP's deposits crossed PKR 2 trillion, while operating profit before credit loss allowance nearly doubled, rising 98.5% to PKR 40.7 billion. The driver: a sharply improved deposit mix and a substantially lower cost of funds, translating into stronger core earnings, tighter costs and prudent ri...