KARACHI, Dec 1: The State Bank, in collaboration with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a private arm of World Bank Group, will host a 12-day training programme on ‘housing finance’ in Karachi from Dec 3 to 14, 2007.

This is for the first time that such a high-level massive training programme on mortgage housing finance is being held in Pakistan. Around 200 high-level officers from banks, DFIs and SBP will be trained.

This programme is to address the lack of expertise issue in the banking sector and to improve the capacity building of those involved in housing finance activities or those who want to do so more effectively.

The training will cover all aspects of housing finance, from product development, loan marketing and distribution and origination, to loan under-writing, servicing and risk management and is geared for staff of both banks and non-banks financial institutions that are currently providing housing finance.

The deputy governor, State Bank Yaseen Anwar, will inaugurate the training programme at the Learning Resource Centre of the SBP on Monday.

This training programme will consist of two sessions; the first starting from December 3, 2007, is called as ‘Master Trainer Session’ while the second beginning from December 10 is called as ‘Mortgage Training session.’

The training programme will provide an opportunity to further develop housing finance products and activities.

This will also improve marketing services to home loan borrowers and thus help increase the home ownership in Pakistan.