KARACHI: The National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) earned a profit-after-tax of Rs17.047 billion during the half-year ended June 30, 2021, compared with Rs15.11 billion in the corresponding period of the last year, registering a growth of 12.77 per cent, a bourse filing said on Thursday.

The public sector bank posted the profit despite a decline in income. The profit of the bank may be attributed to the decline in write-offs for the period under review.

The NBP also declared Rs7.98 earnings per share (EPS) for the half-year, compared with the EPS of Rs7.08 in the corresponding period of the last year.

The NBP board of directors has not recommended any cash dividend, bonus issue/right shares or any other entitlement.

The total income of the bank fell to Rs66.46 billion, compared with Rs67.34 billion during the same period of the last year.

The operating expenses of the bank grew to Rs31.35 billion, compared with Rs30.16 billion. The net provisions and write-offs were at Rs6.93 billion for the half-year ended June 30, 2021, compared with Rs15.58 billion during the same half of the last year.