Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) has greenlit the merger of two prominent institutions in the country’s banking education sector: Institute of Bankers Pakistan (IBP) and National Institute of Banking and Finance Pakistan (NIBAF).
Both IBP and NIBAF operate as non-profit entities focused on promoting banking education and professional development. The CCP’s Phase-I competition assessment identified “Testing & Recruitment Services” and “Training Services – Banking and Finance” as the relevant markets potentially impacted by the merger.
Following the merger, all assets and liabilities of IBP will be transferred to NIBAF, with IBP dissolving as a separate entity. This consolidation aims to create a more robust and streamlined approach to banking education in Pakistan.
The CCP’s assessment concluded that the merger wouldn’t lead to a significant decrease in competition within the relevant markets. Since both institutions are non-profit organizations, no financial exchange will occur during the transfer of assets. Additionally, the combined entity wouldn’t hold a dominant position in the market.
This strategic consolidation is expected to improve the overall quality of banking education in Pakistan. It could also benefit banking professionals by creating a clearer pathway from education to employment within the sector.