Banks, fintechs urged to collaborate

SBP working to build trusted digital finance ecosystem, says deputy governor

KARACHI:

State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Deputy Governor Muhammad Ali Khan has said that the SBP is making efforts to foster a trusted and accountable digital financial ecosystem.

"At the State Bank of Pakistan, our focus is not only on expanding digital access, but on building trust, strengthening regulation and accountability, and enabling digital financial services to translate into meaningful economic activity," said Khan.

He was speaking as the chief guest at the fourth edition of Pakistan Fintech Forum (PFF IV) hosted by Pakistan Fintech Network (PFN) on Wednesday to discuss the next phase of Pakistan's evolving financial ecosystem.

The event was also attended by senior representatives from the State Bank, Pakistan Digital Authority, Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority, Raast Payments Pakistan and leading organisations from across the financial and technology sectors.

Held under the theme "Building the Financial Future: Scale, Trust & Inclusion," the forum provided a platform for dialogue on the opportunities and challenges shaping digital finance in Pakistan, with discussions spanning digital banking, access to credit, sustainable digital payments, financial inclusion, regulation, digital infrastructure and emerging technologies.

Opening the forum, Syed Nadeem Hussain, Chairman Pakistan Fintech Network, highlighted the need to translate Pakistan's growing digital adoption into a financial ecosystem capable of delivering sustainable and inclusive growth.

"Pakistan's fintech sector has moved beyond adoption; the priority now is to build an ecosystem that can scale responsibly, strengthen trust and expand financial inclusion.

"This requires regulatory clarity, resilient infrastructure and stronger collaboration between banks and fintechs, particularly to extend access to credit and serve customers at scale," said Hussain.

The forum featured discussions on key priorities shaping Pakistan's financial sector, including the expansion of digital banking, access to financing and the development of sustainable digital payment models.

Conversations also explored the role of technology, financial data and resilient infrastructure in broadening financial access, strengthening consumer trust and supporting the continued growth of Pakistan's digital financial ecosystem.

The forum featured participation from prominent industry and policy leaders including Imtiaz Haider, Commissioner SECP; Dr Sohail Munir, Chairperson Pakistan Digital Authority; Bilal Bin Saqib, Chairman Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority; and Ahson Saeed, CEO Raast Payments Pakistan.