Karachi: In a major move to foster innovation within Pakistan’s management sector, the Institute of Business Administration (IBA), Karachi, in partnership with Bank Alfalah, has launched a new Design Thinking Program. This initiative, developed in collaboration with the Stanford Life Design Lab, was inaugurated at Bank Alfalah Islamic Branch in Sky Tower, aiming to equip management professionals and senior executives with tools and methodologies proven to enhance innovation and problem-solving.

According to Institute of Business Administration – Karachi, the event saw participation from high-level stakeholders who underscored the significance of integrating Design Thinking into business practices. Dr. S Akbar Zaidi, Executive Director of IBA Karachi, noted the program’s potential to prepare students and business leaders for future challenges by fostering essential innovative and leadership skills.

This strategic collaboration represents a first for Pakistan, with Bank Alfalah being the inaugural organization to integrate such a program at this scale within its senior management. Atif Bajwa, President and CEO of Bank Alfalah, highlighted the alignment of this initiative with the bank’s goals of driving customer-centric innovation and enhancing service delivery.

Dr. Muhammad Imran, Group Head of Islamic Banking at Bank Alfalah, also commented on the critical role of Design Thinking in understanding and meeting customer expectations through innovative financial products and services.

The introduction of this program is expected to contribute significantly to the economic and developmental goals of Pakistan by promoting a knowledge-based economy and establishing a foundation for sustained innovation and creativity in the corporate sector.