KARACHI: Leading UAE lender Mashreq on Tuesday announced the launch of its digital banking services in Pakistan, offering fully Shariah-compliant online solutions as part of a $100 million commitment to the South Asian country.
Pakistan, where nearly 70 percent of adults remain outside the formal financial system, has been encouraging foreign and local lenders to expand digital banking to increase inclusion and attract investment. The State Bank of Pakistan introduced a new regulatory framework in 2022 and has since granted licenses to several digital banks, including Mashreq, as part of efforts to modernize the sector.
Mashreq, Dubai’s third-largest lender by assets, registered in Pakistan in 2023 before receiving central bank approval to launch Islamic banking operations last year.
The bank said its new platform will be powered by “state-of-the-art technology, seamless customer experience and a strong commitment to responsible banking.”
“Mashreq Bank Pakistan aims to offer unparalleled digital banking solutions, built to be fully Shariah compliant,” the bank said in a statement, adding that it aimed to drive digital transformation, financial inclusion and job creation over the next five to ten years.
