SBP Digital Payments Training for Banks
The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has launched a new SBP digital payments training programme for banks, fintech companies and payment firms. The initiative, run with the Mojaloop Foundation, aims to build local expertise in digital payment systems and turn new ideas into working payment solutions.
The programme is called the Mojaloop Country Accelerator Program for Pakistan. It is the first project launched under SBP’s Innovation Hub Collaboration Framework, which forms part of SBP Vision 2028. The framework aims to connect financial institutions, technology providers, fintech companies and other ecosystem participants through partnerships focused on knowledge sharing, capacity building and innovation.
SBP digital payments training: how the programme works
The programme was inaugurated at SBP’s Karachi office. Central bank leadership, Mojaloop Foundation representatives, financial institutions, banks, technology companies, fintechs and academic representatives attended the ceremony. Deputy Governor Saleem Ullah said the partnership would connect Pakistani talent with international expertise and help turn innovative ideas into practical payment solutions.
The Mojaloop Foundation is a nonprofit organisation responsible for maintaining open source Mojaloop payment software. It will support the initiative through programme design and technical training. The 16-week accelerator will run from November 2026 to February 2027, combining independent learning with sessions led by industry experts.
The programme is designed for three groups: local system implementers, digital financial service providers, and payment hub operators. Participants will develop expertise in digital payment infrastructure and gain access to the Mojaloop technical community. That access should let them keep learning after the programme ends, and apply international best practices to local systems.
Why SBP is investing in payments skills
According to SBP, the collaboration is intended to strengthen local technical capabilities, encourage responsible innovation, and expand access to digital financial services. The central bank said the initiative supports its efforts to develop Pakistan’s digital payments ecosystem and promote financial inclusion as part of its Vision 2028 strategy.
The timing makes sense. Digital payments already dominate everyday transactions in Pakistan. SBP data shows digital payments now account for 92 percent of retail transactions, as reported in Digital payments hit 92 percent of Pakistan’s retail transactions. When nearly every retail payment moves digitally, the skills behind those systems matter as much as the apps on top of them.
Banks and fintechs face the same gap. They can launch wallets, apps and merchant tools, but they still need engineers who understand payment rails, settlement, fraud controls and system reliability. A 16-week accelerator aimed at implementers and hub operators targets that gap directly, rather than teaching general digital skills.
What the Mojaloop link adds
Mojaloop is open source software for building instant payment systems. That open approach matters for Pakistan because it lets local firms build on shared code instead of buying every part of a payment system from foreign vendors. The programme therefore pairs training with a real toolkit, not just classroom theory.
Participants will also join the Mojaloop technical community. That link gives Pakistani engineers a place to ask questions, share fixes and follow updates after February 2027. For smaller fintechs that cannot afford large in-house research teams, that community support could prove as valuable as the formal sessions.
The central bank has framed the effort as a first step, not a one-off course. As the first project under the Innovation Hub Collaboration Framework, it sets a template for future partnerships with other technology partners.
What to watch next
Three outcomes will show whether the programme works. First, do participants ship real payment improvements during or soon after the 16 weeks? Second, do banks and fintechs hire or promote the trained staff into payment roles, rather than letting the skills sit idle? Third, does the training reach firms outside Karachi, where most of the launch audience sat?
SBP has also been pushing related reforms in parallel. It recently stressed that climate finance must reach women and farmers, as covered in SBP on climate finance for women and farmers. Its gender-gap work in banking, covered in SBP’s Banking on Equality policy, points the same way: a financial system that serves more people needs both wider access and deeper technical skill.
For customers, the payoff will be quiet but real. Better-trained payment teams should mean fewer failed transactions, faster settlement and more reliable digital services.
Frequently asked questions
What is the SBP digital payments training programme?
It is the Mojaloop Country Accelerator Program for Pakistan, a 16-week training programme for banks, fintechs and payment firms, run by SBP with the Mojaloop Foundation.
How long does the SBP digital payments training run?
The accelerator runs for 16 weeks, from November 2026 to February 2027, combining independent learning with expert-led sessions.
Who can join the Mojaloop accelerator in Pakistan?
It is designed for local system implementers, digital financial service providers and payment hub operators.
What is the Mojaloop Foundation?
It is a nonprofit organisation that maintains open source Mojaloop payment software, used to build instant payment systems.
How does the programme fit SBP Vision 2028?
It is the first project under SBP’s Innovation Hub Collaboration Framework, which forms part of Vision 2028 and aims to build local payment capability and financial inclusion.
Why does Pakistan need digital payments training?
Digital payments already account for 92 percent of retail transactions in Pakistan, so banks and fintechs need engineers who can build and run reliable payment systems.
