Islamabad, September 16, 2025: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday formally inaugurated Mashreq Digital Retail Bank in Pakistan, terming it a landmark step toward building a modern, paperless, and technology-driven economy.
Addressing the launch ceremony, the prime minister congratulated Chairman Mashreq Bank Abdul Aziz Al Ghurair on introducing the UAE-based digital banking platform to Pakistan. He lauded the Ghurair family’s role in strengthening Pakistan–UAE economic relations.
“The launch of Mashreq Digital Bank is a major development that will promote a cashless, digital transaction culture in Pakistan. Our youth, which is both a challenge and an opportunity, will benefit greatly from this innovation,” PM Shehbaz said. He assured full government support for the venture, stressing the need for digital transformation in banking, agriculture, and investment to ensure sustainable growth.
Finance Minister Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb said the new bank would bring innovation and inclusivity to Pakistan’s financial ecosystem. He noted that recent macroeconomic improvements had been acknowledged by global credit rating agencies and emphasized policy consistency for long-term stability. Aurangzeb added that the digital bank would help document the informal economy by integrating millions of unbanked citizens into the formal sector.
Chairman Abdul Aziz Al Ghurair praised the prime minister’s leadership, saying his vision had restored investor confidence. “Pakistan is emerging as a digital economic powerhouse in South Asia,” he remarked.
Mashreq Pakistan CEO Muhammad Hamayun Sajjad revealed that while digital transactions had grown by 35% in recent years, a large segment of the population remained unbanked. He announced the bank’s goal of onboarding 10 million new users.
Federal ministers Ahsan Iqbal, Ali Pervez Malik, Hanif Abbasi, Junaid Anwar, and State Bank Governor Jameel Ahmad also attended the ceremony.
