KARACHI: Islamic Finance News (IFN), an arm of REDmoney Group, Malaysia, has announced State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) as the Best Central Bank of 2021 across the world in promoting Islamic finance for the second consecutive year. The results of global voting were disclosed on Thursday.
IFN Best Banks Poll is regarded as one of the prestigious accolades in the global Islamic finance space. Bank Negara Malaysia stood second while the Saudi Central Bank secured third position, said a press release.
The category of the Best Central Bank in promoting Islamic Finance is one of the closely fought contests among regulators competing for supremacy through exceptional advances made during the year.
The SBP has won this award for the 5th time during last seven years. Previously, it was bestowed with the coveted award for the year 2015, 2017, 2018, and 2020. SBP Governor Dr Reza Baqir said he was honoured to be leading the institution for two consecutive wins in Islamic finance.
The IFN, in its cover story while congratulating the SBP for yet another win as the Best Central Bank in Promoting Islamic Finance, stated that they welcomed back a leading light of the industry.
In a closely fought contest, 2020’s victor came roaring back to take the crown, it added. The IFN, while announcing the poll result, also stated that with its Governor, Dr Reza Baqir, recently promoted to be the new chairman of the Council of the IFSB, from his role as the Deputy Chairman in 2021, they could hopefully look forward to even stronger support and leadership from the central bank over the coming year.
The IFN Award to SBP as the Best Central Bank is the global endorsement of its initiatives for promotion of Islamic banking in the country. The award reflects an international recognition of the strategic measures undertaken by the SBP to put in place a robust policy environment for Islamic banking to prosper.
The SBP has consistently promoted and encouraged Islamic finance within Pakistan, and has taken several significant steps. These include launch of 3rd five- year Strategic Plan for Islamic Banking 2021-25, Shariah compliant standing ceiling facility and open market operations, strengthening of Shariah governance mechanism,
Shariah compliant regulations for the lender of the last resort (LOLR) facility and licensing regime for digital banking covering the Islamic segment; besides taking initiatives for promoting better awareness amongst the masses, and strengthening international linkages.
The Strategic Plan 2021-25 envisages to take Islamic banking share of 30% in terms of assets and 35% in terms of deposits in the overall banking system.
Amidst the COVID-19 chaos throwing unforeseen challenges to the global financial market, Islamic banking industry in Pakistan continued to maintain its impressive growth trajectory and assets and deposits of Islamic banking industry grew on year-on-year basis by 28.2% and 26% respectively by September 30, 2021.
The market share of Islamic banking assets and deposits stood at 17% and 18.6% respectively of the overall banking system in the country as of September 30, 2021.
The industry operates through a huge network of 3,651 branches and 1,579 Islamic banking windows (dedicated counters at conventional branches) steered by 22 Islamic Banking Institutions (IBIs) which include five full-fledged Islamic banks and 17 conventional banks having dedicated Islamic banking branches and windows.
The industry is growing on the back of continued support by the Government of Pakistan which remains committed to provide an enabling platform for this industry to operate.
