The Pakistan Banking Summit (PBS’25) took place on February 24th and 25th, 2025, at the Movenpick Hotel, Karachi. This groundbreaking two-day event marked the first-of-its-kind collaborative initiative in Pakistan’s banking industry.
Organised under the aegis of the Pakistan Banks Association (PBA), this summit marked a significant milestone, successfully bringing together key leaders from Pakistan’s banking and financial sectors along with international experts. PBS’25 featured 12 international speakers and 20+ subject matter experts across Pakistan and convened leaders from over 45 institutions, including conventional, Islamic, digital and microfinance banks as well as development finance institutions.
Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue, Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb, and Jameel Ahmad, Governor State Bank of Pakistan, graced the event alongside other dignitaries from across the public sector, academia and corporate Pakistan.
PBS’25 offered 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. The two-day summit covered various themes relating to global and local economic developments, the role of the banking sector in economic upliftment, SME & agriculture development and financing, digital, Islamic banking, sustainability, diversity, equity and inclusion.
During his keynote address, highlighting the sector’s pivotal contribution, Zafar Masud, Chairman PBA, said, “As the highest tax-paying sector, contributing PKR 644 billion in 2023, banks are a major force in directly funding national infrastructure, public services, and economic programs. Employing over 200,000 people and championing inclusivity with a 20% female participation goal, the industry remains Pakistan’s largest employment engine. Furthermore, with 99.8% of budgetary deficit financing sourced from banks, the sector plays a critical role in ensuring fiscal stability, forex management, and economic resilience. Holding assets equivalent to 48.7% of GDP (2024), the industry continues to fuel business expansion, industrial investment, and financial inclusion—solidifying its position as a key pillar of Pakistan’s economic future.”
Atif Bajwa, Chairman of the Steering Committee of the Pakistan Banking Summit 2025, stated,“PBS’25 has proven that the synergy between the on-ground expertise of Pakistani financial institutions, the global best practices shared by international experts, and a regulator committed to an enabling policy framework leads to truly transformative outcomes. The insights and recommendations from PBS’25 will play a pivotal role in accelerating the ongoing evolution of Pakistan’s banking industry, driving innovation, inclusion, and long-term sectoral growth.”
Elaborating on the need for industry-wide collaboration through PBS’25, Muneer Kamal, CEO & Secretary General – PBA, said, “PBS’25 has successfully brought together key stakeholders to deliberate on pressing issues and explore innovative solutions. This summit was a testament to the commitment of Pakistan’s banking community towards a more progressive financial ecosystem.”
The event also marked the official launch of the eKYC (Electronic Know Your Customer) initiative, aimed at revolutionising the banking industry by replacing manual processes with a secure, digital framework that enhances compliance and customer convenience.
Conversations at the PBS’25 illuminated the manifold opportunities that can be pursued while being mindful of the challenges the banking sector faces. The Summit marks the start of a transformative journey, where key insights will translate into concrete actions, thereby shaping the future of the financial sector.
