Bahawalpur (Khyber Mail): Prof. Dr. Muhammad Kamran, Vice Chancellor of Islamia University of Bahawalpur (IBU), emphasized the importance of promoting academia-industry linkage for the benefit of both sectors and the country’s economy. He highlighted the vital role of the banking sector in keeping the economy active and ensuring socioeconomic development. Dr. Kamran added that collaboration and cooperation between higher education institutions, banks, and other financial institutions are key to providing a trained workforce, promoting research, sustainable development, and launching new projects in agriculture, industry, and other sectors.
Prof. Dr. Muhammad Kamran expressed these views during a training session for banking officials organized by the National Institute of Banking and Finance (NIBAF), a subsidiary of the State Bank of Pakistan. The three-day agricultural finance session, held at Islamia University Bahawalpur, focused on agribusiness risk and lending techniques, with 18 commercial bankers in attendance.
The capacity-building session was delivered by Yahya H. Wahla, Head of Agribusiness at Bank Alfalah Ltd, who has nearly 28 years of experience in the agri-finance field. He shared his expertise with participants, offering insights into the dynamics of the business sector and key aspects of business intelligence. Topics covered during the session included agri marketing, agri finance risk, agri finance documentation, and the remedial management of non-performing loans.
During the three-day event, Dr. Muhammad Nafees, Chairman of Horticulture at IUB, also shared his experiences. Additionally, Vice Chancellor Dr. Kamran delivered a keynote address, appreciating the role of banks in the agri sector and praising the organization of sessions for university students.
All participants, along with Training Manager NIBAF SBP Mubashar Tayyeb, extended their thanks to Registrar Muhammad Shaji ur Rehman, Director PR Dr. Shahzad Ahmed Khalid, Deputy Registrar Public Affairs Fatima Junaid, and their team for coordinating and managing the program effectively.