Tagged: pakistan

June 7, 2026 @ 10:00 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Pakistan has emerged as a fast-growing Asian middle-power with nuclear capabilities but its economy has faced major challenges over the years. Despite issues related to rampant corruption, lack of productive tech industry segments, and a high dependence on imports, Pakistan is still home to a… Read More

May 20, 2026 @ 9:16 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

For many years, individual consumers and businesses operating in Pakistan have experienced considerable challenges when accessing basic financial services due to a lack of regulatory clarity and issues related to inadequate regulatory guidelines. However, this year has started off on a rather positive note with… Read More

March 23, 2026 @ 1:36 am By Omar Faridi  |  

In a key development for Pakistan’s outdated financial services sector, the digital banking platform Zindigi has officially rolled out the country’s inaugural fintech credit card. The launch occurred on Thursday, positioning Zindigi as a trailblazer in bridging traditional banking gaps through technology-driven solutions. Users can… Read More

March 9, 2026 @ 8:23 am By Michael Wong  |  

Pakistan has approved a new law regulating digital assets, creating a dedicated authority to oversee the sector as the country seeks to bring its fast-growing cryptocurrency market under a formal regulatory framework. Parliament has passed the Virtual Assets Act, 2026, establishing the Pakistan Virtual Assets… Read More

February 10, 2026 @ 6:25 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has unveiled plans for a $1 billion investment in artificial intelligence over the next four years, culminating by 2030. This initiative was revealed during the opening of Indus AI Week 2026, a week-long event in Islamabad running from February 9… Read More

January 25, 2026 @ 7:19 am By Michael Wong  |  

Kuwait Investment Authority-backed Raqami Islamic Digital Bank (RIDB) plans to begin operations in Pakistan next month with a $100 million investment, Bloomberg reported, marking another Gulf-backed entry into the country’s financial sector. The lender will become Pakistan’s first fully digital Shariah-compliant bank, offering online financing,… Read More

January 14, 2026 @ 2:13 am By Michael Wong  |  

Pakistan’s fintech sector has expanded digital access over the past decade, but the harder task is getting people to use digital payments in everyday life as cash retains a strong grip on daily commerce, Pakistan’s The Tribune reported, citing an Asian Development Bank (ADB) assessment… Read More

January 9, 2026 @ 4:44 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

As we enter 2026, Pakistan is making strides in its digital finance sector, aiming to attract global capital through targeted reforms and innovative policies. In late 2025, government officials engaged with international fintech leaders from the Middle East to showcase advancements in digital banking and… Read More

December 7, 2025 @ 6:57 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Pakistan said it is pressing ahead with plans to regulate digital assets after senior officials met a delegation from cryptocurrency exchange Binance led by global CEO Richard Teng, as the South Asian nation tries to bring oversight to one of the world’s most active retail… Read More

October 19, 2025 @ 9:59 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Abu Dhabi’s International Holding Company (IHC) said it has acquired a majority stake in state-owned First Women Bank Ltd (FWBL) after Pakistan completed a government-to-government privatisation under its Inter-Governmental Commercial Transactions Act of 2022. The announcement, at a ceremony attended by Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan… Read More

September 17, 2025 @ 10:49 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Pakistan’s  Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (PVARA) has issued a call to global cryptocurrency firms to apply for local licenses. The initiative, announced by the finance ministry, aims to integrate Pakistan’s expanding crypto market—estimated to serve 40 million users—into the global digital economy. This development signals… Read More

July 9, 2025 @ 2:19 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Bazaar Technologies Pvt., which is Pakistan’s most well-funded startup, is on the cusp of achieving profitability in the coming quarters. This, according to a report from Bloomberg. This milestone follows a pivotal fintech acquisition that has bolstered the five-year-old company’s ambitions to dominate Pakistan’s e-commerce… Read More

July 8, 2025 @ 8:53 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Pakistan’s cabinet has cleared the creation of the Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (PVARA), setting the stage for a formal licensing and supervisory regime for digital-asset businesses in a country that already ranks among the world’s busiest crypto markets. A cabinet communiqué said PVARA will… Read More

May 24, 2025 @ 4:10 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Pakistan’s financial markets regulator has banned 141 fraudulent digital loan applications as part of an intensified crackdown on online financial scams, according to 24NewsHD. The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) said the platforms were offering interest-free loans via Facebook and other social media… Read More

April 27, 2025 @ 9:09 pm By Tony Zerucha  |  

The Interledger Foundation, an organization building and advocating for an open, interoperable payments network, has announced its participation in three technological initiatives and five research projects. Among these initiatives is work with private fintech companies to streamline remittances for a major bank in Pakistan, power… Read More

April 20, 2025 @ 9:11 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Pakistan will host its first-ever Digital Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Forum in Islamabad on April 29-30, a historic initiative by the Government of Pakistan and the Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO). Supported by the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), the two-day event aims to attract international… Read More

April 12, 2025 @ 6:06 pm By Tony Zerucha  |  

Haball, a Pakistani supply chain financing and payments fintech, has closed a $52 million pre-Series A funding round comprising equity investment and a strategic financing allocation. Financing is focused on efforts in Pakistan and an expansion into the GCC. The round’s equity component of US$5… Read More

March 22, 2025 @ 5:23 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Pakistan’s recent decision to “legalize” cryptocurrency transactions and investments marks a pivot from its historically cautious stance on digital assets. However, it is unclear just how the country will implement a proper regulatory framework for Bitcoin (BTC) and other digital currencies. Over the years, Pakistan… Read More

March 17, 2025 @ 8:46 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Pakistan has taken a significant step toward modernizing its digital payment landscape with the recent introduction of Google Wallet, a move announced in March 2025. This development, coupled with emerging crypto-related initiatives, signals the country’s intent to align with global technological trends. However, despite these… Read More

February 2, 2025 @ 5:39 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Egypt-based fintech Halan Microfinance Bank has expanded its footprint into Pakistan following its acquisition of Advance Microfinance Bank. The deal provides Halan with an existing license and a rapid route into one of South Asia’s fastest-growing microfinance sectors, according to an announcement. The company announced… Read More