KARACHI Sept 25: The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) will host five Islamic Financial Services Awareness Programmes from October 27–31 under the auspices of Islamic Financial Services Board (IFSB).

The programmes will be held in conjunction with the 13th Meeting of the Council of the IFSB, which is also being hosted by the SBP here on October 29, said a press release issued by the SBP simultaneously from Karachi and Kuala Lumpur on Thursday.

The five programmes included the 3rd International Conference on Islamic Banking & Finance: Risk Management, Regulation and Supervision - co-organised with the Islamic Research and Training Institute (IRTI) and Islamic Development Bank (IDB).

Second Public Lecture on Financial Policy and Stability, Interactive Session on the Financial Health of Islamic Financial Services, Fifth International Seminar on Challenges facing the Independence of Shari’ah Supervisory Boards, Seminar on Monetary Operations and Liquidity Management.

These programmes will be addressed by top executives from among the industry’s regulatory and supervisory bodies, as well as leading international experts in the Islamic financial services industry. These leaders represent a vast spectrum of the industry – covering the banking, capital markets and Takaful sectors.

Governor State Bank of Pakistan Dr Shamshad Akhtar, who is also the chairperson of IFSB Council, while appreciating the efforts of the IFSB said that global interest in Islamic finance industry and Pakistan’s success in laying basic foundation and developing core infrastructure of Islamic financial system lends confidence that the country has good potential and prospects to further develop this industry.

She expressed hope that these events would greatly help in transfer of success and technology across jurisdictions, besides providing excellent networking opportunities.

Secretary General of the IFSB, Professor Rifaat Ahmed Abdel Karim, commenting on the importance of holding these programmes said: “Looking at the growing integration of the Islamic financial services industry into the global financial framework, it is imperative for the international financial community to keep itself abreast with the developments and issues inherent within the industry.