The National Institute of Banking and Finance (NIBAF), the training arm of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), successfully organized the 74th Islamic Banking Certification Course (IBCC-74) for officers of Bank Alfalah Limited. The program, held on August 16, 2025, at the Bank Alfalah Learning Center in Karachi, marks another step in advancing professional capacity within Pakistan’s growing Islamic finance sector.
The course was designed exclusively for officers of Bank Alfalah, one of the country’s leading commercial banks with a significant presence in Islamic banking. Mr. Naveed Ahmed, Senior Joint Director at the State Bank of Pakistan, led the training sessions, bringing regulatory insights and practical industry knowledge to the participants.
The initiative underscores NIBAF’s continued commitment to strengthening human capital in the financial sector, particularly in the area of Islamic finance. By conducting specialized programs such as the IBCC, NIBAF aims to enhance the skills of banking professionals, equipping them with the knowledge required to meet the evolving demands of customers and regulators alike.
Islamic finance has seen steady growth in Pakistan over the past two decades, with both conventional and dedicated Islamic banks expanding their operations to cater to increasing demand. Courses like IBCC provide banking professionals with a deeper understanding of Shariah-compliant financial instruments, regulatory frameworks, and operational best practices. They also help institutions like Bank Alfalah reinforce their competitive advantage in a market where consumer preference for Islamic banking products continues to rise.
Bank Alfalah’s active participation in the program demonstrates its strategic focus on Islamic finance. By investing in training programs for its officers, the bank is not only building internal expertise but also contributing to the overall development of the industry. With increasing scrutiny on financial institutions to align with global best practices, professional certification and skill-building are becoming essential.
Industry observers note that capacity-building efforts such as IBCC-74 are integral to the broader ecosystem of Pakistan’s financial sector reforms. As regulators continue to encourage the adoption of Islamic financial practices and expand the regulatory framework, trained professionals will play a critical role in bridging policy, practice, and customer engagement.
The training also comes at a time when financial institutions are increasingly integrating technology into Islamic banking services. From mobile banking platforms offering Shariah-compliant products to digital onboarding solutions for investment accounts, the landscape is shifting rapidly. Courses like IBCC not only prepare officers to understand traditional principles of Islamic finance but also enable them to adapt to the digitized environment shaping the future of banking.
NIBAF’s continued delivery of programs like IBCC reflects a growing awareness of the importance of continuous learning in a fast-evolving financial ecosystem. For Bank Alfalah, participation in such initiatives enhances its workforce readiness and reinforces its position as a forward-looking bank committed to excellence in both conventional and Islamic finance.