Digital platforms reshaping access to financial services in Pakistan: CEO easypaisa
At the inaugural Money20/20 Middle East conference in Riyadh (15–17 September), Jahanzeb Khan, President & CEO of easypaisa digital bank, underscored the transformative potential of digital innovation rooted in local insights to drive comprehensive financial inclusion in Pakistan.
Speaking on the panel “Future of Global Finance is Local + Digital” alongside Rob Cameron (Global Head of Acceptance Solutions, Visa) and Ahmad Habib Alhaddad (Senior Director – Product Development, STC Bank), Jahanzeb highlighted how digital platforms like easypaisa are reshaping access to financial services, especially in one of the region’s most underbanked economies.
He discussed easypaisa’s evolution into Pakistan’s first digital retail bank, officially launching earlier this year, and its mission to extend formal financial services to underserved populations. “With over 60% financial inclusion already achieved, we’re now focused on bridging the remaining gap through locally relevant innovation,” he noted.
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Jahanzeb outlined easypaisa’s vision to become the go-to platform for families receiving remittances, small businesses engaged in cross-border trade, and freelancers working with international clients. “By enabling faster, more affordable, and accessible global payments, we’re unlocking new economic opportunities for millions of Pakistanis,” he added.
He also acknowledged the proactive efforts of the Government of Pakistan and the State Bank in advancing the country’s digital economy under the Cashless Pakistan initiative. “easypaisa is committed to supporting regulatory efforts and championing an open, secure, and inclusive financial ecosystem,” Jahanzeb said.
Aligned with its mission to democratize financial services, easypaisa continues to develop solutions for Pakistan’s unbanked and underbanked. With a focus on use cases like international remittances and cross-border payments, the bank is helping drive formal foreign currency inflows—crucial for national economic stability.
Jahanzeb emphasized the strategic partnership with Ant International, which blends global expertise with deep local understanding to enhance easypaisa’s offerings.
The panel also explored the role of emerging technologies—including AI, eKYC, and Mobile Platform-as-a-Service (mPaaS)—in scaling financial inclusion through collaboration between local innovators and global players.
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Money20/20, launched in 2012, is a leading global fintech event bringing together banks, tech companies, regulators, investors, and startups to shape the future of financial services.
With one in five Pakistanis using the platform, a 31% female user base, and over 2.7 billion transactions processed in 2024 (worth over PKR 9.5 trillion—around 9% of Pakistan’s GDP), easypaisa continues to set new standards for digital banking and financial empowerment in the country.
Source: Pro Pakistani