LAHORE (PR) - Al Baraka Islamic Bank Pakistan (AIBP), the branch operations of Al Baraka Islamic Bank (AIB) Bahrain, a subsidiary of Al Baraka Banking Group (ABG) Bahrain, and Emirates Global Islamic Bank (Pakistan), have successfully merged their operations under the name of Al Baraka Bank (Pakistan) Limited (ABPL). The head office will be located in Karachi. ABPL will have assets in excess of Rs. 50 billion, a workforce of 1400 professionals and a network of 89 branches in 36 cities and towns across the country. ABPL will commence operations from close of business on October 29, 2010 and subsequently all branches of Emirates Global Islamic Bank will be re-branded as ABPL. The merger, a first in the Islamic Banking sector in Pakistan, positions ABPL to play an important role in further growing an industry which has witnessed tremendous growth over the last 5 years. Substantial capital resources, combined with a nationwide branch network will enable ABPL to provide a full range of Islamic banking services, supported by the experience and expertise of the parent company, ABG. The operations of AIBP date back to 1991, and at the time of merging its operations, it had 29 branches across Pakistan, an asset base of Rs. 31 billion and profit before tax of Rs.168 million. Emirates Global Islamic Bank began its operations in Pakistan in 2007 with principal shareholders being Emirates Investment Group (through Emirates Financial Holding Company) and Al Rajhi Investment Group (through Mat Al Khaleej Investment Company). At the time of merger, EGIB had a 60 branch network located in 31 cities and towns throughout the country. AIB is a subsidiary banking unit of ABC, a Bahrain joint Stock Company listed on Bahrain and NASDAQ Dubai stock exchanges. It is a leading international Islamic bank with Standard & Poors long and short-term credit ratings of BBB- and A-3 respectively and offers retail, corporate and investment banking, and treasury services strictly in accordance with the principles of Islamic Shariah. The authorized capital of ABC is US$1.5 billion, asset base is US$15 billion and total equity is US$ 1.7 billion. The group is present in Jordan, Bahrain, Algeria, Sudan, South Africa, Lebanon, Tunisia, Egypt, Turkey, and Syria, with a representative office in Indonesia. The total number of branches of the Al Baraka Banking Group, including Pakistan, will exceed 360 branches.