Over 40 senior leaders from Pakistan’s financial sector convened in Islamabad for a two-day intensive training on impact financing, aimed at embedding developmental and social outcomes into financial decision-making and operations. The training, jointly organized by the Ministry of Finance (MoF), the Pakistan Banks’ Association (PBA), and Karandaaz Pakistan, is seen as a significant milestone in aligning the financial sector with national and global sustainability goals.
The workshop was led by Alex MacGillivray, a globally recognized expert in impact financing, and focused on the integration of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) outcomes within financial institutions’ strategic frameworks. This initiative aligns with Pakistan’s Social Impact Financing Framework as well as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), underlining a national commitment to purpose-driven finance.
Participants included top executives and senior leaders from a wide array of prominent banking institutions and financial organizations across the country. Among the key figures present were Zafar Masud, Yousaf Hussain, Atif Bajwa, Rehmat Hasnie, Rizwan Ata, Muhammad Atif Hanif, Amir Khan, Nauman Ansari, Kamran Zaidi, Muhammad Nauman Chughtai, Muhammad Jawaid Iqbal, Nassir S., Khurram Shahzad Khan, Irfan Siddiqui, Basir Shamsie, and Muhtashim Ahmed Ashai.
Representatives from leading institutions such as HBL, National Bank of Pakistan, UBL – United Bank Limited, Meezan Bank Limited, MCB Bank Limited, Bank AL Habib Limited, Allied Bank Limited, Askari Bank, Faysal Bank Limited, Standard Chartered, Soneri Bank Limited, Silkbank Limited, Mashreq, MCB Islamic Bank Ltd., BankIslami Pakistan Limited, ICBC Ltd Pakistan Operations, Easypaisa Digital Bank, Mobilink Bank, The Bank of Punjab, Bank Alfalah Limited, JS Bank, Al Baraka Bank Pakistan Ltd., Habib Metropolitan Bank (a subsidiary of AG Zurich), and First Women Bank Limited took part in the sessions.
Muneer Kamal, CEO and Secretary General of the Pakistan Banks’ Association, emphasized the urgency of this transition. In his remarks, he stated, “Pakistan’s banking sector must lead from the front as we transition towards a more sustainable and impact-driven financial ecosystem. This partnership with MoF and Karandaaz reflects PBA’s commitment to strengthening sectoral readiness and aligning capital with long-term national priorities.”
This training underscores the growing recognition within Pakistan’s banking ecosystem of the need to go beyond traditional profit metrics and begin incorporating broader societal impacts into investment and lending practices. It also represents a pivotal step towards enhancing institutional capacity for sustainable finance and building a financial infrastructure that is not only resilient but also inclusive and future-ready.
By bringing together key stakeholders from public and private financial institutions, the workshop aimed to foster collaboration, share best practices, and provide actionable strategies to integrate impact finance principles into the core operations of banks and financial service providers.
The initiative is also a part of a broader movement within Pakistan to modernize its financial sector by leveraging data, digital innovation, and global sustainability standards. As the country continues to address development challenges, such platforms are expected to play a central role in channeling capital toward high-impact sectors including health, education, green infrastructure, and financial inclusion.