PBA to host summit on future of banking industry

By Our Correspondent
February 13, 2025
People wait for their turn to withdraw money outside a bank in Islamabad. —AFP/File
People wait for their turn to withdraw money outside a bank in Islamabad. —AFP/File

KARACHI: The Pakistan Banks Association (PBA) will host a summit to discuss key themes, including the banking sector’s role in economic development, financing for priority sectors, the future of Islamic banking and digitalisation.

The Pakistan Banking Summit 2025 (PBS 25) is scheduled for February 24 and 25 in Karachi.“The event will offer an invaluable platform for the banking industry and its stakeholders to engage in critical conversations relating to emerging trends and opportunities for banking and finance,” Atif Bajwa, chairperson of the PBS Steering Committee and president of Bank Alfalah, told a press conference on Wednesday.

“The summit aims to cover critical themes relating to global and local economic developments, the role of the banking sector in economic upliftment, priority sector financing, the future of Islamic banking and digitalisation, to name a few,” Bajwa added.

The summit will feature over 12 prominent international speakers and more than 20 local subject matter experts. It will bring together leaders from more than 45 institutions, including conventional, Islamic, digital and microfinance banks, as well as development finance institutions. This historic gathering, comprising over 1,000 representatives from the government, regulatory bodies, banking, fintech, academia, media and corporate sectors, marks a significant milestone for the financial sector.

“By bringing together key stakeholders, this summit will serve as a catalyst for meaningful discussions and transformative solutions that will shape the future of the financial sector of Pakistan,” said Zafar Masud, chairperson of the PBA and president of the Bank of Punjab.

Moreover, the PBA plans to develop a Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SME) index over the next year. This index aims to serve as a barometer for the financial sector and help increase financing for SMEs in the country. It will be updated every six months to provide more accurate insight into small and medium businesses to banks.