The Pakistan Banks Association (PBA) Wednesday concluded the second Pakistan Banking Summit 2026 (PBS’26), reaffirming the banking industry’s collective commitment to supporting Pakistan’s next phase of economic transformation through stronger collaboration, innovation, financial inclusion, and policy dialogue.
Attendance and Participation
Over two days, PBS’26 brought together more than 1,200 attendees, including policymakers, regulators, banking leaders, international experts, development partners, academia, and corporate Pakistan, reinforcing its position as the country’s premier platform for shaping the future of banking and financial services. The summit also featured more than 15 international speakers and 20+ local thought leaders, providing a unique forum for exchanging global perspectives, strengthening public-private collaboration, and identifying practical pathways to build a more resilient, inclusive, and future-ready financial system.
Keynote Addresses and Speakers
The PBS’26 featured keynote addresses by Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb, Federal Minister for Finance & Revenue; Jameel Ahmad, Governor State Bank of Pakistan; Bilal Azhar Kayani, Minister of State for Finance & Railways and Head of the Prime Minister’s Delivery Unit; Saleem Ullah, Deputy Governor, State Bank of Pakistan; Shahmir Khaliq, Global Head of Services, Citi, alongside a special video message by Syed Babar Ali, Founding Pro-Chancellor, Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS).
Thematic Sessions and Discussions
Across nine thematic sessions over two days, participants explored the economic outlook for Pakistan and the global economy; financing priority sectors; digital transformation and digital currencies; retail banking and payments; capital markets; climate-responsive finance; Islamic banking; and the leadership capabilities required to build a future-ready banking sector.
In his keynote address, Jameel Ahmad, Governor SBP, highlighted the progress made in strengthening Pakistan’s financial sector and emphasised the need to sustain reform momentum by expanding access to finance, embracing innovation, and enhancing resilience. “Together, we can build a financial system that is more inclusive, more competitive, and better prepared for the challenges and opportunities of the future,” he said.
Chairman PBA's Remarks
Commenting on the conclusion of the Summit, Zafar Masud, Chairman PBA, said: “PBS’26 has reinforced that the future of Pakistan’s financial sector will be shaped through collaboration. The banking industry stands ready to work alongside the Government, the State Bank of Pakistan, and the private sector to expand financial inclusion, strengthen priority-sector financing, accelerate innovation, and support Pakistan’s long-term economic transformation.”
Steering Committee Chairman's Address
In his keynote address, Atif Bajwa, Chairman Steering Committee, PBS, stressed that achieving Pakistan’s long-term economic ambitions would require stronger alignment between policy, regulation, and financial sector priorities. He called for reforms that incentivise greater private-sector investment, expand access to finance for underserved sectors, and create an enabling environment for innovation, sustainable finance, and inclusive economic growth.
Closing Remarks and Future Outlook
Delivering the closing remarks, Muneer Kamal, CEO & Secretary General, PBA, said the summit had evolved into a platform for driving meaningful dialogue and collective action across the financial sector. He emphasised that the true measure of PBS’26 would be the partnerships it strengthened, the ideas it translated into action, and its contribution to shaping a stronger, more competitive, and future-ready banking sector.
With its successful conclusion, PBS’26 further strengthened its position as Pakistan’s flagship banking and financial services platform, bringing together national and international leaders to advance dialogue, foster collaboration, and build consensus on the policies and priorities that will shape the country’s financial future.
