The Institute of Business Administration (IBA) Karachi and the National Institute of Banking and Finance (NIBAF) Pakistan have officially partnered to advance professional development and capacity building in the banking and digital finance sectors. The collaboration, formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed at IBA Karachi in an event hosted by the Center for Information and Communication Technology (CICT), aims to equip Pakistan’s financial workforce with the skills necessary to thrive in a rapidly evolving digital economy.
This strategic alliance brings together IBA’s academic rigor and NIBAF’s extensive industry expertise to deliver high-impact training programs tailored for professionals operating in banking, finance, and digital transformation domains. The MoU was signed by Mr. Riaz Chunara, CEO of NIBAF Pakistan, and Prof. Dr. Shakeel Khoja, Dean of IBA’s School of Mathematics and Computer Science (SMCS), underscoring a shared commitment to empowering human capital in Pakistan’s financial services industry.
Through this partnership, both institutions aim to co-develop training modules, executive education programs, and certifications that reflect the dynamic needs of modern banking and fintech landscapes. The collaboration will also include research opportunities, joint workshops, seminars, and knowledge-sharing initiatives to bridge the gap between academic theory and real-world financial practices.
The move is timely, as financial institutions across Pakistan face increasing pressure to digitize services, adopt emerging technologies, and comply with evolving regulatory frameworks. By developing a digitally fluent and strategically equipped talent pool, IBA and NIBAF hope to play a pivotal role in future-proofing the financial sector.
The partnership also aligns with national objectives, including the State Bank of Pakistan’s push for digital financial inclusion and the broader vision of preparing the workforce for the Fourth Industrial Revolution. With this initiative, IBA and NIBAF position themselves at the forefront of financial and digital literacy enhancement, fostering innovation and professionalism within Pakistan’s financial ecosystem.
As digital finance becomes an increasingly central pillar of economic development, such collaborations between academia and industry are essential to build resilient institutions and empower future leaders.