The incentive structure behind Pakistan’s SME financing gap An entrepreneur in Pakistan can run a profitable business for years, employ workers and build supplier relationships, and still struggle to secure formal credit. Banks, meanwhile, can deploy billions into government securities with minimal effort and near zero operational risk. Why does capital flow so easily to […]
By: Hamna Shakeel An economic corridor built on code and capital is quietly formalizing across the Arabian Sea. Following the enactment of the landmark Virtual Assets Act of 2026, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) issued BPRD Circular Letter No. 10 of the same year, which would dismantle an eight-year blanket prohibition on digital asset […]
When the door closed on Wise in Pakistan, nobody said why. This investigation did not stop there. By Samra The Correspondent | June 3, 2026 Umer works with multiple clients across the UK and the US. He has a Wise account. It functions. The money moves. But every time a new client asks for his Wise […]
QR payments are everywhere. But at the ground level, trust is still manual. QR payments are everywhere. But the experience around them still isn’t. From small shops to roadside vendors — the acceptance layer is no longer the problem. But at the ground level, something still feels incomplete. Merchants still pause. They still check their […]
Pakistan’s economy is undergoing a quiet but significant transformation, which is driven not by traditional industries, but by the rapid expansion of its digital workforce. Over the past few years, millions of Pakistanis have entered global markets through online platforms, offering services in software development, design, marketing, business and administrative support, and consulting. Platforms such […]
Pakistan has the users, the regulator, and the political will. FATF’s March 2026 report tells it exactly where the gaps are. The question is whether the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) and Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (PVARA) will move fast enough to fill them. Pakistan has a regulator now. A year ago, 40 million […]
February 2026: Owais Mukhtar, President of Nuces Fintech Society Executive Overview Pakistan has stabilized but it has not transformed. After approaching sovereign default in 2023, macro indicators improved. GDP reached 411 billion dollars in FY2025, inflation fell to 4.7 percent, and foreign reserves rose to 16.6 billion dollars. Remittances climbed to 34.6 billion dollars .These […]
Few places feel as resolutely analogue as a government office in Pakistan. Yet it was at a NADRA centre, during a routine ID card renewal, that Pakistan’s digital shift became unmistakably real. When it came time to pay, I was told the fee could only be transferred via Raast. No cash. No card. As an […]
Pakistan’s financial landscape is currently entering a phase of monumental transition, driven by the ever-increasing momentum of digital transformation. Money is being redefined in the modern-day across Pakistan, from city centers to the remote corners of the country. The once interminable barriers of traditional banking—which saw bank penetration of only 23% among adults with formal […]
In Pakistan, the importance of successfully managing personal finances cannot be overemphasized. When faced with fluctuating economic conditions and inflation impacting purchasing power, it is crucial to have a good financial plan. This guide will introduce you to the basics of personal finance management including budgeting, saving, investing and dealing with debts. Understanding Your Income […]