NIBAF Pakistan has successfully concluded a five-day national Training of Trainers (ToT) Program on Islamic Banking and Finance, bringing together university faculty members, banking professionals, academic leaders and senior representatives from the State Bank of Pakistan. The program was held from September 28 to October 2, 2026, at the NIBAF Pakistan Karachi Campus and focused on strengthening the capacity of academic institutions to support the development of Islamic banking and finance education in Pakistan.
The program was specifically designed for faculty members from universities, with the objective of connecting academic knowledge with practical experience from the banking and financial services sector. NIBAF Pakistan highlighted the importance of stronger links between academia and industry as Pakistan’s Islamic banking ecosystem continues to develop. The five-day initiative provided participants with exposure to senior banking executives, academic specialists and central bank leadership through a series of sessions, discussions and learning activities.
The opening session featured Ms. Nighat Tanveer, Director of the Islamic Finance Development Department at the State Bank of Pakistan. Her participation brought a central banking perspective to the beginning of the program and highlighted the role of financial sector institutions in supporting the development of knowledge and professional capabilities related to Islamic finance.
The program also included a visionary talk with Mr. Yousaf Hussain, Chief Executive Officer of Faysal Bank Limited. His participation provided university faculty members with an opportunity to gain insights from the leadership of a bank operating within Pakistan’s Islamic banking sector. The interaction formed part of the broader effort to bring industry experience into academic discussions and help educators better understand developments and requirements within the banking industry.
An academic masterclass was also conducted by Dr. Irum Saba, Professor and Program Director at IBA Karachi. The session added an academic perspective to the training and focused on strengthening the ability of university faculty to engage with Islamic banking and finance concepts within educational settings. The involvement of an experienced academic leader also supported the program’s objective of improving the quality and relevance of Islamic finance education.
Another key component of the five-day program was a panel discussion titled “Bridging Academia and Industry.” The discussion featured Mr. Faisal Shaikh from Faysal Bank, Mr. Saleemullah Shaikh from Habib Metropolitan Bank and Dr. Imran from Bank Alfalah. The panel provided a platform for discussion between academic and banking representatives, with the broader objective of addressing the relationship between university education and the practical requirements of the financial sector.
NIBAF Pakistan also highlighted the role of permanent industry-academia integration in developing the country’s Islamic financial education framework. Bringing university faculty into direct engagement with banking professionals can provide educators with a clearer understanding of market practices, institutional requirements and emerging areas within Islamic finance. At the same time, stronger academic engagement can support the development of future banking professionals by ensuring that educational programs remain connected with industry developments.
The concluding address was delivered by Mr. Muhammad Ali Malik, Deputy Governor of the State Bank of Pakistan. His participation marked the final stage of the national initiative and brought senior central bank leadership into the program’s closing session. The involvement of SBP officials at both the opening and concluding stages reflected the importance placed on academic capacity building and the development of knowledge in Islamic banking and finance.
NIBAF Pakistan described the initiative as a national capability-building program aimed at bringing together academic leaders, banking executives and central bank representatives. The institute said that connecting academic rigor with industry expertise is important for expanding Pakistan’s Islamic banking ecosystem. The five-day program therefore provided a platform for university faculty members to interact with senior figures from the banking and financial sector while exploring ways to strengthen Islamic finance education.
The successful completion of the Training of Trainers program represents an effort to build stronger institutional capacity among educators who contribute to the preparation of future banking and finance professionals. By facilitating interaction between universities, banks and the central bank, NIBAF Pakistan sought to support a more connected approach to Islamic financial education and encourage continued engagement between academia and industry.
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