Tagged: pakistan

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

January 7, 2025 @ 5:06 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Mashreq Pakistan, a subsidiary of the UAE’s Mashreq Bank, has secured a restricted license from the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) to commence pilot operations as a digital retail bank in the country. The approval marks a significant milestone in Mashreq’s expansion and highlights its… Read More

December 17, 2024 @ 9:16 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Mastercard (NYSE: MA) has joined forces with the Bank of Punjab (BOP) as a partner to enhance the bank’s proposition across consumer debit and credit, affluent portfolio and loyalty offerings. The collab seeks to transform the banking institution’s digital ecosystem and its customers’ digital experience…. Read More

September 29, 2024 @ 1:03 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Qist Bazaar, Pakistan’s Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) fintech startup, announced that it has secured $3.2 million in its Series A funding round. The round was led by Indus Valley Capital, with “participation from Gobi Partners, a prominent Asia-focused venture capital firm with $1.6 billion… Read More

July 28, 2024 @ 4:40 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

VEON Ltd. (NASDAQ, Euronext Amsterdam: VEON), a global digital operator that provides converged connectivity and online services, announces that Jazz, its digital operator in Pakistan, has secured the country’s largest long-term private sector syndicated credit facility of up to PKR 75 billion (c. USD 270… Read More

July 12, 2024 @ 5:27 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Pakistan based Fintech firm Sadapay has reportedly laid off around 30% of its employees, which includes sevearl C-suite execs, according to an update shared by local sources. Sadapay claims that the layoffs were made due to cost-cutting measures and the decision was announced during a… Read More

May 14, 2024 @ 10:16 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Alraedah Digital Solutions, a technology company and the innovation arm of Alraedah Digital Group, is pleased to announce a strategic partnership with ABHI, a MENAP-based Fintech specializing in Earned Wage Access and Invoice Factoring. The collaboration marks a significant milestone in Alraedah’s commitment “to fostering… Read More

April 30, 2024 @ 7:35 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Pakistan’s Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb recently stated that the nation’s government is looking into integrating digital currency transactions within the Asian country’s financial ecosystem. While addressing attendees at the World Economic Forum (WEF) special meeting held in in Riyadh, Minister Aurangzeb commented on Pakistan‘s efforts… Read More

April 28, 2024 @ 3:54 pm By Michael Wong  |  

The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) has awarded a Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC) license to M/s Edufi Financial Services (Private) Limited. This license marks a notable advancement in the Pakistani financial sector by establishing the first digital platform for ‘Study Now, Pay Later’… Read More

February 21, 2024 @ 10:02 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

In the “bustling” landscape of Pakistan, Elphinstone claims that it stands as a beacon of financial empowerment, offering “a gateway for the country’s burgeoning middle class to unlock their financial potential.” Co-founded by Farooq Tirmizi and Uzair Mahmud in 2020, Elphinstone addresses a critical pain… Read More