KARACHI -In pursuance of Section 10(3) of the State Bank of Pakistan Act, the President of Pakistan has appointed Ashraf Mahmood Wathra as Governor, State Bank of Pakistan for a period of three years with effect from the date he assumes the office, says a notification issued by the Government of Pakistan, Finance Division (Internal Finance Wing), Islamabad on April 28, 2014.
Wathra is the 18th Governor of SBP since its inception in 1948. He assumed the charge of the office of the Governor, State Bank of Pakistan today. Prior to his appointment as SBP Governor, he was appointed Acting Governor of the State Bank of Pakistan with effect from close of business, January 31, 2014.
Earlier, on March 11, 2013, Wathra was appointed as Deputy Governor (DG), State Bank of Pakistan (SBP). Wathra also brings 36 years of commercial and investment banking experience to his new assignment. Prior to joining SBP, he was serving the National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) as its Senior Executive Vice President & Group Chief, Credit Management Group, since October, 2012.
Before joining NBP, Wathra served Habib Bank Limited from April 1999 to September 2012 in various responsible capacities overseas. He has working experience in regulatory regimes such as Singapore, Hong Kong, Australia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Nepal. Prior to working overseas he has worked as Group Executive Audit, Risk Review BRR and also Group Executive Remedial Management at HBL Head office in late nineties.
He was attached with Faysal Bank Limited from May 1992 to March 1999 in senior positions. From 1978 to 1992, he had been associated with BRR Capital Modaraba, Emirates Bank International, American Express Bank Ltd. and ANZ Grindlays Bank. He also served as Director at Habib Finance International, Hong Kong and Habib Finance, Australia. He served as Director & Vice Chairman of Himalayan Bank Ltd, Nepal for almost eight years.
Wathra holds a Masters Degree in Business Administration and has attended the Wharton/SMU General Management Programme.