Bank Alfalah, one of Pakistan’s leading commercial banks, has partnered with the Center for Excellence in Journalism (CEJ) at the Institute of Business Administration (IBA) Karachi to launch EmpowerED, a five-day capacity-building initiative aimed at enhancing digital and financial literacy among content creators. This initiative reflects a growing recognition of the need for equipping Pakistan’s expanding creator economy with tools for safe, responsible, and financially informed online engagement.
The EmpowerED program comes at a time when Pakistan’s digital landscape is undergoing significant transformation. According to the Digital 2025 Global Overview Report, Pakistan had over 66.9 million social media user identities as of January 2025, representing 26.4 percent of the population. Additionally, the Global System for Mobile Communications Association reported over 190 million cellular mobile connections, accounting for more than 75 percent of the population. With such widespread digital access, content creators have emerged as key players in shaping cultural, social, and commercial narratives. However, many of these creators operate independently and lack formal training in financial planning, online safety, and digital responsibility.
Bank Alfalah’s collaboration with IBA-CEJ is a strategic effort to fill this gap. The program focused on providing creators with the skills necessary to build a credible digital presence, engage audiences meaningfully, and understand monetization strategies. It also addressed essential areas such as cybersecurity, budgeting, and the use of digital financial tools tailored for freelancers and online entrepreneurs.
Shahzeb Jillani, Director of IBA-CEJ, highlighted the importance of such initiatives in today’s evolving media environment. “Content creators are playing an increasingly influential role in shaping public discourse, culture, and business. However, many enter this space without exposure to critical concepts like digital responsibility and financial planning. At CEJ, we aim to bridge that gap by equipping creators with knowledge that strengthens Pakistan’s digital ecosystem.”
Madiha Javed Qureshi, Head of Communications at Bank Alfalah, emphasized the bank’s broader mission of community empowerment through education. “At Bank Alfalah, we believe that empowering our communities with financial knowledge and digital security awareness is fundamental. In a time where digital interactions are a growing part of our lives, ensuring the safety and financial well-being of individuals is a responsibility we take seriously.”
The five-day course hosted 15 selected participants and featured a diverse lineup of guest instructors and industry leaders. The speakers included well-known content creators like Kazi Akber and Riffat Rashid, digital media strategist Faisal Sheikh, Mutahir Khan from Data Darbar, cybersecurity expert Mudabbir Jamil from Bank Alfalah, and Fariha Aziz from Bolo Bhi. Their combined experience provided participants with practical, real-world insights and mentorship.
This initiative underscores the long-term commitment of Bank Alfalah and IBA-CEJ to uplift Pakistan’s digital economy by empowering independent creators with the knowledge and tools to thrive in an increasingly digital world. The partnership aims to set a precedent for future training programs that promote digital responsibility, financial independence, and cybersecurity awareness across Pakistan’s creative and digital industries.
