Bank AL Habib Limited and 1LINK have conducted a strategic executive meeting at 1LINK Headquarters to outline new initiatives aimed at expanding Pakistan’s domestic payment scheme, PayPak, and broadening digital banking collaboration. The high-level session brought together leadership teams from both institutions to evaluate existing payment channels, align on future technological integrations, and identify growth opportunities across the country’s evolving financial landscape.
The executive meeting featured key discussions led by Syed Zafar Ali Zaidi, Chief Digital Officer of Bank AL Habib Limited, alongside Najeeb Agrawalla, Chief Executive Officer of 1LINK. Both leaders emphasized the strategic necessity of expanding PayPak’s market penetration across consumer and commercial banking touchpoints. Beyond domestic debit card issuance, the dialogue covered the broader deployment of 1LINK’s suite of digital infrastructure solutions, including interoperable interbank transfers, utility and merchant billing platforms, and secure transaction switching systems designed to support high-volume payment processing.
The renewed focus on PayPak aligns with ongoing national initiatives supported by the central bank to promote localized, cost-effective payment alternatives that reduce reliance on international card schemes. Operating on 1LINK’s domestic switch, PayPak provides financial institutions with a lower-cost operational framework for issuing debit cards, allowing banks to offer accessible transaction tools to a broader segment of account holders. By expanding PayPak issuance and integrating localized value-added services—such as domestic merchant discounts, digital rewards, and integrated fraud risk management tools—Bank AL Habib and 1LINK aim to make digital payment adoption more attractive and accessible for daily retail transactions.
Executive representatives from both organizations reaffirmed their joint commitment to fostering innovation, enhancing digital customer onboarding, and expanding the reach of cashless payment tools. By combining Bank AL Habib’s widespread branch network and growing digital footprint with 1LINK’s national payment switch capabilities, the partnership seeks to deliver more efficient, resilient, and inclusive financial services to consumers across Pakistan. Both entities plan to continue regular institutional collaboration to roll out next-generation payment features and support the long-term digital transformation of the domestic banking sector.
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