LONDON, Feb 27 (Reuters) - HSBC said it is talks tosell its business in Pakistan to Meezan Bank Limited,another possible sale by Europe's biggest bank from countrieswhere it is unprofitable or lacks scale.
HSBC's Pakistan business has 10 branches and it has beentrying to sell it for the last two years, but a plan to sell itto JS Bank Limited fell through last October afterfailing to get regulatory approval.
HSBC said on Thursday the talks with Meezan Bank "are at apreliminary stage" and will require regulatory approvals.
HSBC has sold or closed 63 businesses in the last threeyears to reduce risk and boost profitability, and on Wednesdayagreed to sell its bank in Kazakhstan.