NIBAF Pakistan has successfully conducted a two-day specialised training programme titled “Unlocking Agri Lending through Technology and Innovations” in Faisalabad, bringing together banking professionals to examine how technological developments and innovative financing approaches can support agricultural lending in Pakistan. Held on November 10 and 11, 2026, the programme focused on the growing importance of digital solutions in agricultural finance and the need to strengthen lending practices through improved risk assessment, technology adoption and sector-specific financial services.
The training was designed to provide participants with practical knowledge of how technology can improve the delivery of financial services to the agricultural sector. Agricultural lending remains an important area for Pakistan’s banking industry, given the financing requirements of farmers, agricultural businesses and other stakeholders involved in the country’s farming ecosystem. By introducing technology-based approaches, financial institutions can explore more efficient ways to assess financing needs, process credit applications and manage agricultural loan portfolios while addressing challenges that have traditionally affected access to formal banking services in rural areas.
The two-day programme featured specialised facilitation by Mr. Sajid Iqbal, Chief Executive Officer of Green Circle, and Mr. Sarfraz Ahmad of Bank Alfalah Limited. Their participation brought industry knowledge and professional experience into discussions around the practical application of technology and innovation in agricultural financing. The sessions provided banking professionals with opportunities to understand the operational and financial considerations involved in expanding agricultural lending, particularly in areas where conventional lending models may face difficulties in assessing borrowers and managing credit exposure.
A major focus of the training was the digitisation of agricultural finance and the role of technology in mitigating credit risks. Financial institutions need reliable information, effective assessment mechanisms and appropriate lending frameworks to serve agricultural borrowers while maintaining the quality of their financing portfolios. Technology can support these objectives by improving access to relevant borrower information, strengthening credit evaluation processes and helping banks manage agricultural financing activities more effectively. The programme also examined how banking institutions can scale sustainable agri-lending portfolios through approaches that address the specific requirements of the agricultural sector.
The initiative reflects the broader need for Pakistan’s banking industry to develop financing solutions that respond to the economic importance and operational characteristics of agriculture. Farmers and agricultural enterprises require financial services that are accessible, timely and suited to their business activities. Strengthening the capacity of banking professionals to understand these requirements can help financial institutions improve their lending strategies and identify opportunities to extend formal financing to underserved segments of the agricultural economy. Training programmes focused on specialised sectors can also help banks build internal expertise and adopt practices that support responsible lending.
Through the successful completion of the Faisalabad programme, NIBAF Pakistan reiterated its commitment to promoting financial inclusion, encouraging sector-specific innovation and strengthening institutional capacity across the country’s banking industry. The training on November 10 and 11 provided participating professionals with practical exposure to technology-enabled agricultural financing and credit risk management. Such capacity-building initiatives remain relevant as Pakistan’s financial institutions explore ways to modernise lending operations, expand access to agricultural credit and develop sustainable financing portfolios that can better serve the country’s agricultural sector.
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