NIBAF Pakistan successfully conducted a certification-based hands-on training titled “Mastering Excel Dashboards & AI Data Modeling in Power BI” from August 5 to 8, 2025, at its Karachi campus. Designed to upskill banking professionals in data visualization and advanced analytics, the training brought together officers from NIBAF and various commercial banks for four days of immersive learning.
The training was led by Mr. Irfan Bakaly, a well-regarded expert in data analytics and business intelligence. Through structured sessions and practical assignments, participants explored the full potential of Excel dashboards and Power BI for strategic data interpretation and decision-making. The program aimed to build digital competencies that are increasingly essential in the modern financial services landscape.
With data becoming central to decision-making processes in banks and financial institutions, the demand for professionals who can efficiently model, visualize, and interpret complex datasets has grown rapidly. Recognizing this need, NIBAF curated this training to bridge knowledge gaps and offer hands-on experience with tools that drive smarter, quicker, and more accurate decisions in today’s competitive environment.
The training covered core Excel dashboarding techniques, such as dynamic charts, pivot tables, data linking, conditional formatting, and layout optimization. These features enable financial professionals to create visually rich dashboards for real-time tracking and performance analysis. The Power BI module focused on AI-enabled data modeling, predictive analytics, and the integration of large datasets from multiple sources into a single, interactive reporting environment.
Participants learned to harness Power BI’s DAX (Data Analysis Expressions) functionality, perform advanced queries with Power Query, and design AI-powered visuals to support forecasting, trend analysis, and anomaly detection. These capabilities are especially relevant for institutions navigating dynamic market conditions and regulatory environments.
The course also emphasized the practical use of analytics in areas such as risk assessment, customer segmentation, product performance tracking, and compliance monitoring. Participants gained insights into how data tools can transform static reports into interactive narratives that support strategic conversations within organizations.
In addition to technical skill-building, the training encouraged collaborative learning and the exchange of ideas among officers from various banks, fostering a shared understanding of how data analytics is reshaping the banking sector in Pakistan. As the financial ecosystem becomes more digitized, the ability to extract actionable insights from data is rapidly becoming a key competitive advantage.
Mr. Irfan Bakaly’s expertise and real-world examples made the training highly interactive and applicable. Feedback from participants highlighted the relevance and immediate usability of the content in their respective roles. Many expressed confidence in applying the newly acquired tools to streamline reporting processes, improve internal analytics functions, and contribute to data-led transformation efforts within their institutions.
By hosting such forward-looking training initiatives, NIBAF continues to play a vital role in developing the technical and strategic capabilities of Pakistan’s banking workforce. This certification course stands as another step toward embedding a data-first mindset within the country’s financial infrastructure.