Exposure Visit Showcased Pakistan’s Advancements in Islamic Banking, Shariah Governance, Microfinance, and Fintech Innovation
(December 09, 2025 – Dubai, UAE): AlHuda CIBE exclusively organized the Islamic Finance Immersion and Exposure Program from December 01 to 06, 2025, welcoming an international delegation representing nine (9) countries. The program concluded successfully in Islamabad and Karachi, offering an insightful, practice-based immersion into Pakistan’s Islamic finance ecosystem. Over the week, participants engaged with leading institutions, regulators, Shariah scholars, and financial sector professionals, gaining firsthand exposure to Pakistan’s advancements in Islamic banking, Shariah governance, microfinance, fintech, capital markets, and agricultural finance.
The program’s Islamabad leg on December 02, 2025 began with a visit to the Pakistan Microfinance Network, where Chief Executive Officer Syed Mohsin Ahmed briefed the participants on Pakistan’s microfinance landscape, digital transformation, and outreach models supporting low-income and underserved communities. The delegation then met with the Pakistan Fintech Network, where CEO Fahad Sajid explained the rapid evolution of digital payments, innovation hubs, and Pakistan’s emerging fintech start-up ecosystem. This was followed by a detailed discussion at Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited with Group Head of Islamic Banking, Abdul Jabbar Karimi, who emphasized the importance of Shariah-compliant agricultural financing and Pakistan’s leadership in supporting rural development. The delegation later visited the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan, where Tariq Naeem, Additional Director of the Islamic Finance Department, highlighted regulatory reforms, Shariah supervision protocols, and capital market governance supporting the Islamic finance industry. Before concluding the day with an industry visit to Aitemaad Islamic Banking of the National Bank of Pakistan.
On December 04, 2025, the delegation continued the exposure in Karachi, beginning with a session at Habib Metropolitan Bank Limited. Ahmed Shah Khattak, Head of Shariah Compliance and Secretary to the Shariah Board, discussed the bank’s Shariah governance structure and internal controls. This was followed by a visit to Meezan Bank Limited, where Muhammad Faraz Haleem from the Shariah Compliance Department elaborated on coordination processes, Shariah audits, and the pioneering efforts that positioned Meezan Bank as a global leader in Islamic banking. The delegation also visited Jamia Darul Uloom Karachi, where Dr. Mufti Muhammad Imran Ashraf Usmani highlighted Pakistan’s contributions to contemporary Islamic jurisprudence and the central role of Darul Uloom in shaping global Shariah standards. The day concluded at BankIslami Pakistan Limited with a session led by Muhammad Irfan Ahmed, Head of Shariah Compliance, who outlined the bank’s digital initiatives, compliance mechanisms, and product development aligned with Islamic principles.
The final engagements of the exposure visit took place in Karachi. The delegation met with Mr. Saleem Ullah, who discussed Pakistan’s regulatory vision, the rapid growth of Islamic banking in the country, and the central bank’s commitment to strengthening Shariah governance and innovation within the financial system, Mr. Farrukh Sabzwari, Chief Executive Officer of the Pakistan Stock Exchange, who explained the workings of the capital market, Sukuk listings, and Shariah-compliant investment frameworks. At Faysal Bank Limited, Muhammad Faisal Shaikh, Head of Shariah Compliance and Advisory, shared insights into the bank’s complete transformation to Islamic banking and the strategic, operational, and governance milestones achieved during this transition. This was followed by an executive session with Omar Mustafa Ansari, Secretary General of AAOIFI Bahrain, who underscored the importance of adopting AAOIFI standards to harmonize global practices and enhance transparency and credibility across Islamic financial institutions. As a distinguished conclusion to the visit, the delegation met with Deputy Governor of the State Bank of Pakistan. The participants were also addressed by Dr. Amjad Saqib, Founder of Akhuwat Foundation, who shared the organization’s mission of poverty alleviation, its globally recognized “interest-free loan” model, and the vision behind building one of the world’s largest Islamic microfinance programs based on empathy, trust, and community solidarity on 6th December, 2025.
As the program concluded, the international delegates expressed profound appreciation for the comprehensive exposure facilitated by AlHuda CIBE. They noted that the visit provided invaluable practical learning, meaningful institutional engagement, and a deep understanding of how Pakistan successfully implements Shariah-compliant financial solutions at scale. The program further strengthened professional linkages between Pakistan and various African and Central Asian countries, supporting future collaboration and cross-border knowledge exchange. Its successful completion reaffirmed Pakistan’s position as a global leader in Islamic finance and demonstrated AlHuda CIBE’s continued commitment to promoting international capacity building and industry-wide development across the Islamic financial sector.
About AlHuda CIBE:
AlHuda Center of Islamic Banking and Economics (CIBE) is a well-recognized name in Islamic banking and finance industry for research and provide state-of-the-art Advisory Consultancy and Education through various well-recognized modes viz. Islamic Financial Product Development, Shariah Advisory, Trainings Workshops, and Islamic Microfinance and Takaful Consultancies etc. side by side through our distinguished, generally acceptable and known Publications in Islamic Banking and Finance.
We are dedicated to serving the community as a unique institution, advisory and capacity building for the last twelve years. The prime goal has always been to remain stick to the commitments providing Services not only in UAE/Pakistan but all over the world. We have so far served in more than 104 countries for the development of Islamic Banking and Finance industry. For further Details about AlHuda CIBE, please visit: https://www.alhudacibe.com/
For Media Contact:
Ms. Shaguftta Perveen
Manager Communications,
info@alhudacibe.com
Call: +971 52 865 5523