Page 30 - NIBAF-Training Matters July - December 2022

International Central/Commercial Banking Courses NIBAF
annually offers international training programs, sponsored jointly
by Government of Pakistan and SBP under the Pakistan Technical
Assistance Program (PTAP) to strengthen the individual,
institutional and national linkages. International courses are
designed to provide a mix of academic knowledge, social
interaction and cultural observation to a diverse group of
individuals and prepare middle level officers to assume higher
level responsibilities in their respective organizations. Over the
period, two international courses i.e. “51st International Central
Banking Course and 48th international Commercial Banking
Course” were held at NIBAF Islamabad from November 28, 2022
to December 16, 2022. Twenty-one mid to senior level
central/commercial bankers and officers from Ministry of Finance
from 10 friendly, developing countries including Afghanistan,
Burundi, Gambia, Malawi, Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Sudan,
Syria and Tajikistan attended these programs.

The represented regions were South Asia – SAARC, Central Asia,
Middle East, Eastern Africa, and Western Africa. Ten local
participants from SBP and The Bank of Punjab also attended the
programs. During the course, participants had the opportunity to
interact with the seasoned subject matter experts within the
banking sector. A wide breadth of topics encompassing
macroeconomic policy, financial stability, credit risk management,
treasury management and trade operations in commercial banks
were covered in details along with insightful sessions on
supervisory framework of SBP and recent migration from CAMELS
to Risk Based Supervision (RBS). The trainees were given
orientation on Payment Systems’ infrastructure in Pakistan and its
components. Deliberations were also made on SBP’s critical role
in democratization of digital financial services in the country
measures improvement of payment systems infrastructure and
cybersecurity on a personal and professional level.

Fundamentals of development finance, priority sectors as defined
by SBP, financing mandates in these areas and global best
practices were also discussed at length. Besides the class room
session, the participants had an exciting opportunity to visit the
National Assembly of Pakistan, where honorable speaker and
members of the house extended a warm welcome to the
delegates. On the official visit to the Ministry of Finance
participants were briefed on functional spectrum of the finance
division and management of the public finance including allocative
efficiency through best budget making practices. Participants also
visited the countryside areas, Taxila Museum and the Buddhist
monasteries. The active participation of the trainee, open
discussion on country-specific challenges /experiences and
exposure to the institutional set up and culture of Pakistan was
appreciated by all.