The National Institute of Banking and Finance (NIBAF) successfully hosted its flagship Islamic Banking Professional Development program (IBPD-16) at its Lahore campus from May 26 to May 30, 2025. The five-day training initiative aimed to strengthen the capacity and competence of professionals in the growing field of Islamic banking in Pakistan.
This installment of the IBPD series featured intensive sessions led by two distinguished experts in the field: Mr. Imran Yousuf Sheikh and Mufti Ammar Ashraf. Both facilitators are widely respected for their extensive knowledge and experience in Islamic finance, bringing theoretical and practical expertise to the sessions.
NIBAF, a subsidiary of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), has been playing a critical role in enhancing human capital across the banking sector. The IBPD series is one of NIBAF’s core training initiatives, specifically tailored to support the SBP’s vision of promoting Islamic banking as a parallel and robust financial system in Pakistan.
The IBPD-16 sessions were designed to cover a comprehensive curriculum including the fundamentals of Islamic finance, the regulatory framework in Pakistan, Shariah-compliant banking models, and practical case studies involving Islamic financial products. This program offered participants a deep understanding of how Islamic principles are applied in modern banking operations, along with the complexities of risk, governance, and compliance in a faith-based financial system.
Participants of the program included professionals from various financial institutions, including Islamic banks, conventional banks with Islamic windows, and regulators. The initiative served as a platform for interactive learning, peer-to-peer networking, and knowledge-sharing among professionals who are either currently working in or aspiring to enter the Islamic banking sector.
Mufti Ammar Ashraf, a Shariah scholar and seasoned trainer, focused on the jurisprudential aspects of Islamic finance, helping attendees grasp the underlying ethical principles of Islamic commercial law. Mr. Imran Yousuf Sheikh contributed insights from a regulatory and operational perspective, aligning theoretical knowledge with real-world applications.
The training concluded with a strong emphasis on innovation in Islamic financial services and the importance of aligning product development with evolving customer needs while adhering to Shariah principles. This forward-looking perspective is critical as Islamic banking continues to gain momentum both in Pakistan and globally.
Through such initiatives, NIBAF continues to demonstrate its commitment to fostering a highly skilled workforce capable of supporting the sustainable growth of Islamic finance. The successful execution of IBPD-16 not only reflects NIBAF’s role in developing sectoral competencies but also underscores the increasing importance of Islamic banking in Pakistan’s financial ecosystem.
As Islamic banking expands across local and international markets, capacity-building efforts like IBPD are instrumental in ensuring that professionals are well-equipped to contribute to the industry’s development and credibility.