Key points:

• Pakistan Banking Summit 2026 concluded in Karachi on July 8.
• More than 1,200 participants attended the two-day event.
• Over 15 international speakers and 20 local experts participated.
• Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb and SBP Governor Jameel Ahmad delivered keynote addresses.
• Sessions focused on digital banking, financial inclusion, Islamic banking, climate finance and capital markets.
• Pakistan Banks Association reaffirmed its commitment to supporting economic transformation through collaboration and innovation.

KARACHI – The Pakistan Banks Association (PBA) has concluded the second edition of the Pakistan Banking Summit 2026 (PBS’26), with banking leaders, policymakers and regulators reaffirming their commitment to strengthening Pakistan’s financial sector through greater collaboration, innovation and financial inclusion.

Held over two days in Karachi, the summit attracted more than 1,200 participants, including senior government officials, banking executives, regulators, international experts, development partners, academics and representatives from the corporate sector.

According to the organisers, the event featured over 15 international speakers and more than 20 Pakistani thought leaders, providing a platform to exchange global perspectives, strengthen public-private partnerships and discuss reforms aimed at building a resilient and future-ready financial system.

The summit featured keynote addresses by Finance Minister Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb, State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Governor Jameel Ahmad, Minister of State for Finance and Railways Bilal Azhar Kayani, SBP Deputy Governor Saleem Ullah, and Citi Global Head of Services Shahmir Khaliq. Participants also watched a special video message from Syed Babar Ali, the founding pro-chancellor of LUMS.

Across nine thematic sessions, speakers discussed Pakistan’s economic outlook, financing for priority sectors, digital transformation, digital currencies, retail banking, payment systems, capital markets, climate finance, Islamic banking and leadership required to modernise the country’s banking industry.

Speaking at the summit, SBP Governor Jameel Ahmad highlighted the progress made in strengthening Pakistan’s financial sector and stressed the importance of maintaining the pace of reforms.

He said expanding access to finance, embracing innovation and improving resilience would help create a more competitive and inclusive financial system capable of addressing future challenges.

PBA Chairman Zafar Masud said the summit demonstrated that collaboration would remain central to the future of Pakistan’s financial sector.

He added that the banking industry was prepared to work closely with the federal government, the State Bank of Pakistan and the private sector to promote financial inclusion, expand financing for priority sectors, accelerate innovation and support long-term economic growth.

Meanwhile, Atif Bajwa, Chairman of the PBS Steering Committee, said Pakistan’s long-term economic ambitions would require stronger coordination between policymakers, regulators and financial institutions.

He called for reforms aimed at encouraging private-sector investment, improving access to finance for underserved sectors and creating an environment that supports innovation, sustainable finance and inclusive growth.

In his closing remarks, Muneer Kamal, CEO and Secretary General of the Pakistan Banks Association, said the summit had become an important platform for dialogue across the banking sector.

He said the success of PBS’26 would ultimately be measured by the partnerships it created, the ideas translated into practical action and its contribution to building a stronger and more competitive banking industry.

The organisers said the successful conclusion of the summit further strengthened its position as Pakistan’s flagship platform for banking and financial services, bringing together national and international stakeholders to shape the future of the country’s financial sector.

Read more: Pakistan Banking Summit 2026 key details: July 7-8