SBP Issues Instructions to Improve Stability in Islamic Banking

The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has issued exclusive instructions on Shariah Non-Compliance Risk (SNCR) management, aimed at enhancing the stability and soundness of Islamic banking. The foundation of Islamic Banking lies in compliance with Shariah’s rules and principles in all its business activities and operations. SNCR is a unique risk faced by Islamic Banking Institutions (IBIs) and must be managed proactively. ALSO READ Governor SBP Appointed Chairman of Islamic Financial Services Board The increasing size of the industry in terms of assets and deposits, diversified operations, products, and services make focused management of SNCR a necessity. In addition, the adoption of uniform practices will help in maintaining consistency over time and across IBIs. To improve SNCR management, instructions issued by SBP require the Board of Directors (BoD) and senior management of IBIs to approve and ensure implementation of SNCR as a part of the overall risk management framework in line with the size and complexity of their business. The SNCR management framework will be developed using SBP’s instructions on Shariah principles and decisions in conjunction with rulings and fatwa of the Shariah Board of the IBI as key reference points. These will allow for the identification of risks and controls in different products, services, and business activities. As per SBP’s instructions, the IBIs should take the necessary steps to ensure that relevant members of BoD and senior management possess the requisite knowledge and understanding of the risk management of SNCR. SBP’s instructions require IBIs to have an appropriate reporting mechanism, including frequency and thresholds for reporting the SNCR events to the BoD or its sub-committee. ALSO READ Islamic Banking is Now More Popular than Traditional Banking IBIs will also be required to maintain a proper record of Shariah non-compliant events or transactions and furnish to SBP, on a quarterly basis, the details of actual losses incurred. Issuance of current instructions coupled with the existing comprehensive Shariah Governance Framework will help achieve targets laid down in the third strategic plan for Islamic banking recently issued by SBP.