The National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) has entered into a significant partnership with Hazara Electric Supply Company (HAZECO) to facilitate seamless, end-to-end digital bill collection for utility services. This collaboration marks a major milestone in NBP’s strategic push to expand its digital service offerings and support Pakistan’s broader digital transformation agenda.
The formal agreement was signed in Islamabad by Mr. Imran Gul, General Manager North of NBP, and Engr. Qazi Muhammad Tahir, CEO of HAZECO. The signing ceremony was also attended by Mr. Hisham Jan Kiani, Head of Digital Solutions North – Digital Banking Group (DBG), and Mr. Fakhar-uz-Zaman, Regional Head – NBP Abbottabad, alongside senior leadership from both institutions.
Under the new arrangement, NBP will integrate its SMARTPAY and 1LINK Reverse Aggregation platforms with HAZECO’s billing infrastructure. This will enable HAZECO’s nearly 900,000 customers to pay their electricity bills through a digital, real-time platform, eliminating traditional paper-based delays and reducing friction in the payment process.
The introduction of these platforms is expected to significantly enhance customer convenience, providing users with an accessible and reliable method to handle their payments across digital channels. For HAZECO, the solution offers streamlined revenue collection, better cash flow visibility, and improved billing accuracy — all critical components for an efficient utility operation.
Speaking at the ceremony, officials from both sides highlighted the broader impact of this partnership. They emphasized how such digital integration improves operational performance while aligning with national goals for financial inclusion and modernization of public sector services.
This development is particularly important in the context of Pakistan’s growing emphasis on e-governance, digital payments, and financial technology adoption. NBP, being a state-owned bank with one of the most extensive branch networks in the country, continues to lead initiatives that support the transition toward a more digitally enabled financial ecosystem.
This collaboration not only addresses the practical needs of utility consumers but also sets a precedent for other public sector utility providers to explore similar technology-driven solutions. The partnership signals a shift toward smart financial infrastructure, where government and financial institutions work in tandem to digitize key services and ensure easier access for citizens across Pakistan.
By facilitating digital collections for a large customer base in a geographically diverse area like Hazara, this initiative underscores NBP’s leadership in enabling inclusive banking and payment services. It also reinforces the bank’s focus on delivering efficient, secure, and scalable solutions that support national development through technology.
With this move, NBP continues to position itself as a forward-looking institution committed to leveraging digital innovation for better governance, improved service delivery, and a stronger national economy.
