For the first time in Pakistan, the prestigious Islamic Retail Banking Awards (IRBA) were held in the country — a landmark moment for Pakistan’s Islamic finance landscape. Organized by Cambridge IFA, the 11th IRBA took place on November 19, 2025.
At the ceremony, the IRBA Awards Committee presented the Cambridge Award for Distinguished Contribution to Islamic Finance Education & Advocacy 2025 to IoBM President Mr. Talib Syed Karim, honoring his outstanding leadership and tireless dedication as the patron of the International Conference on Islamic Banking and Finance (ICIBF), an annual event organized by IoBM, which has become one of Pakistan’s foremost forums for Islamic finance.
The Islamic Retail Banking Awards are the world’s first awards dedicated to evaluating Islamic retail banking through academically rigorous performance analysis. Recognized for their credibility, the IRBA honor outstanding institutions and individuals whose contributions drive innovation, growth, and excellence in the Islamic retail banking sector. Winners are selected by an independent panel using Cambridge IFA’s efficiency model: one of the most trusted assessment frameworks in the industry.
As a global financial services intelligence provider, Cambridge IFA uses advanced analytical tools to assess market performance, leadership, and brand strength across the international financial sector. Over the past 11 years, IRBA has celebrated more than 400 institutions and professionals worldwide — and with this year’s ceremony, Pakistan now stands proudly among the countries shaping the future of Islamic retail banking.
