Centre for Islamic Finance Welcomes SBP Deputy Governor to LUMS
The Centre for Islamic Finance (CIF) at the Suleman Dawood School of Business (SDSB), LUMS, welcomed Mr. Saleem Ullah, Deputy Governor of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), on February 10, 2026, for a series of engagements focused on strengthening collaboration between academia and regulatory leadership.
Accompanied by Ms. Nighat Tanveer, Director, Islamic Finance Development Department, along with Mr. Usman and Mr. Riaz, Mr. Ullah took part in discussions that highlighted CIF’s growing role in advancing Islamic finance education and engagement in Pakistan.
As part of CIF’s Learning from Leaders initiative, Mr. Ullah joined Dr. Saad Azmat, Director, CIF, for a podcast conversation on the evolving role of regulators in shaping Pakistan’s financial ecosystem. The discussion focused on the country’s transition towards full Islamic banking by the end of 2027, and the structural, operational, and policy challenges involved in that shift.
A key highlight of the visit was the signing of the first Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between CIF and LUMSx to jointly develop and deliver online courses for industry professionals. The collaboration marks an important step in expanding access to high-quality Islamic finance education through digital platforms. The ceremony was attended by the SBP delegation, CIF leadership, and the LUMSx team, including Dr. Ihsan Ayub Qazi, Mr. Jazib Zahir, and Mr. Khizar Tahseen.
The visit also included a luncheon with senior university leadership, faculty, and CIF representatives. In his welcome remarks, Mr. Shahid Hussain, Rector, underscored CIF’s potential to advance Islamic finance research and education in Pakistan, while Dr. Tariq Jadoon, Provost, emphasised the importance of sustained engagement between academia and regulators.
Mr. Saleem Ullah reflected on SBP’s decision to establish the Centre for Islamic Finance at LUMS, noting that the University holds significant untapped potential not only for institutional growth, but also for contributing meaningfully to broader regional and national development.
During the gathering, Dr. Saad Azmat introduced two upcoming executive programmes at the Rausing Executive Development Centre (REDC): Islamic Banking for Executives (April 15–17, 2026) and Spiritual Lives of Leaders (March 9–12, 2026).
The visit reflects CIF’s continued commitment to fostering collaboration between policymakers, regulators, and academia, while creating platforms for thought leadership, policy dialogue, and knowledge exchange in Islamic finance.
