Certain vested interests have recently started a concerted vilification campaign against one of the premier bankers of this country, Mr Yunus Dalia, the newly-appointed President of Pakistan’s largest financial institution, Habib Bank Ltd. This unjustified attack is a clear case of sour grapes and will, unfortunately, hurt the entire banking and financial sector of the country. A pragmatic case in the defense of this man is presented for consideration:

Mr Yunus Dalia has been in the banking sector for nearly FOUR decades. He started off with MCB and moved over to Habib Bank as a Probationary Officer way back in 1961. Perseverance, dedication, and a keenness to excel propelled this eminent banker to scale the heights of the hierarchy pyramid, and today he has been promoted to the enviable position of supremo of HBL. This is an earned posting and not a lollipop falling in his lap. Prudence dictates that top positions in the banking sector should only be given to those who have a thorough knowledge of the intricacies of finance and who have the confidence and trust of depositors, clients, and personnel of that institution. Mr Dalia has kept his nose to the grindstone and has won his stripes.

Mr Yunus Dalia has always endeared himself to those he came in contact with. The parties galore in his honor and the steady but unending stream of visitors going up to his office way up in Habib Plaza is proof positive that he is held in high esteem by all. Never ever in the history of any Pakistani bank have so many come to wish good luck to the top man than being daily witnessed in the tallest structure of this nation. This speaks volumes of his devotion to the responsibilities of whatever office he held and the one he now occupies.

Mr Yunus Dalia is being hounded by certain disgruntled elements because he is on the level and is ready to take a principled stand when it comes to the banking imperatives. This will not play well with those out to milk the financial system of Pakistan high and dry. His appointment may hurt those who want to destroy and malign the Pakistani banking people who are acclaimed as world-class when it comes to expertise and skills of financial understanding.

Mr Yunus Dalia is regrettably being put in the same league with those very, very few bankers who have fallen prey to temptation and influence and who have brought bad name to the Pakistani financial scenario. Everybody in the banking industry is not a crook out to siphon off billions and leaving the depositors hanging precariously on tenterhooks. The con men who ran the co-operatives, the desperadoes who managed BCCI, the pan-eating, loud-mouth who considered Mehran Bank as his personal handmaiden, and the petty small-time crooks who came into big money by luring innocent but greedy people to invest in their finance companies are few, albeit diabolical. However, these notorious perpetrators of financial chicanery did whatever they did because they had political, governmental, and other means of heavy protection and support. Big time crooks are found all over the world. The lure of easy money is too captivating and enchanting.

Mr Yunus Dalia has been instrumental in recovering a large amount of stuck-up loans and has achieved recovery targets in the shortest possible time. He has assiduously followed the laid down procedures and has endeavored to bring into focus, especially to the businessmen and the industrialists who deal with HBL, the apparent desire of the Bank to be a friendly partner but one which will ensure the timely settlement of outstanding liabilities. The point has been appreciated by this community and in various meetings this view has been emphasized by them, too, and that they look forward to far-reaching and fundamental changes in the working environment of this premier institution.

Mr Yunus Dalia should be afforded a well deserved opportunity to turn around the state of this Bank. This is an Herculean task and requires the patience of Job. It is after a long time that an experienced banker has been given the onerous assignment to clear up whatever mess has been floating around the Bank and to ensure that the Bank again achieves in full regalia the glory it so richly deserves. This mission needs nerves of iron and steel; one banker that comes to mind to effectively achieve the desired objective is this banker par excellence.

Mr Yunus Dalia belongs to an ethnic community that prides itself for its sagacity and judiciousness when it comes to matters of finance. The color of money is highly conspicuous in their dealings and there is seldom any hint of prodigality when it comes to financial affairs. The value of money is traditionally a significant influence in the lives of this peaceful community. The recent vituperation orchestrated by capricious windbags reeks of turgid stench. There is also an odorous smell of malafide connotation against the ethnic background of the top honcho of HBL. This will, obviously, not play well with this serene community and may result in unwarranted restlessness among the members of this community.

Mr Yunus Dalia has worked diligently all over his career years. The smear campaign started as soon as he took over as President of HBL. His detractors have exposed themselves as pygmies with a myopic and parochial outlook, as rabble-rousers with malformed rottenness, and as miscreant scums brimming with spiteful venom.

Mr Yunus Dalia deserves a honest-to-goodness chance to prove, again, his mettle. The unsuitable slandering and character assassination process should cease immediately as this is very counter-productive. The total esteem of the Pakistani banking community rests on the expected success of this man. Let him get on with his job. If Mr Yunus Dalia cannot do it, then maybe no one can really do it. The depositors, the borrowers, and the people at Habib Bank are bullish on Mr Yunus Dalia. This, after all, counts ! Doesn’t it ?

Sincerely:

WALI O. TAPELO