The National Institute of Banking and Finance (NIBAF) Pakistan successfully organized an exclusive Islamic Banking Certification Program (IBCP) for officers of Habib Metropolitan Bank Limited (HMBL) from May 5 to May 7, 2025, at the Habib Metropolitan Learning Center, Karachi. The three-day program was designed to enhance the knowledge and operational understanding of Islamic banking principles among professionals in the commercial banking sector, with a specific focus on practical application within Pakistan’s financial framework.
The training was led by Mufti Awais Naeem, a distinguished Shariah Advisor at UBL, who brought a deep and authoritative perspective to the subject matter. With his extensive experience in Shariah-compliant finance, Mufti Naeem guided participants through the theological, legal, and operational dimensions of Islamic banking, aligning religious principles with modern banking practices.
The exclusive nature of this program underscores HMBL’s commitment to strengthening its Islamic banking capabilities. As the demand for Shariah-compliant financial products continues to grow across Pakistan, financial institutions are increasingly prioritizing staff training to ensure they meet both customer expectations and regulatory standards. This initiative reflects the bank’s strategic direction toward expanding its Islamic finance services while upholding authenticity and integrity in compliance with Islamic jurisprudence.
Over the course of three days, participants engaged in a comprehensive curriculum that covered the fundamentals of Islamic finance, including the prohibition of riba (interest), risk-sharing models, ethical banking practices, and the structure of Islamic financial instruments such as Murabaha, Ijarah, Mudarabah, and Sukuk. The training emphasized the distinct characteristics that differentiate Islamic banking from its conventional counterpart, while also exploring how these principles are implemented within Pakistan’s dual banking environment.
Interactive case studies and real-world banking scenarios formed a vital part of the program, enabling participants to practically apply Shariah principles to day-to-day banking operations. This hands-on approach reinforced the theoretical knowledge shared during the sessions and allowed participants to assess the practical challenges and opportunities in offering Islamic banking products.
Mufti Awais Naeem’s presence added substantial depth to the program. His insights into regulatory considerations, fatwas (Islamic rulings), and the evolving nature of Islamic financial services provided participants with both clarity and confidence in addressing complex customer queries and operational scenarios. His ability to bridge traditional Islamic scholarship with modern banking imperatives was especially valued by the attendees.
This training forms part of NIBAF’s broader mission to support capacity building within Pakistan’s financial sector. As the official training arm of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), NIBAF continues to facilitate programs that align with SBP’s strategic vision of promoting Islamic banking as a cornerstone of the country’s financial inclusion and development agenda.
By equipping banking professionals with both technical knowledge and Shariah-compliant perspectives, NIBAF plays a pivotal role in fostering a robust Islamic banking ecosystem. The success of this exclusive certification program for HMBL demonstrates the growing synergy between training institutions, Shariah scholars, and the private banking sector in nurturing a well-informed and ethically grounded workforce.
As Islamic finance continues to gain prominence globally, initiatives like this underscore Pakistan’s proactive stance in nurturing Islamic banking expertise to meet both domestic demand and international best practices.