Digital payments drive Pakistan’s shift away from a cash-based economy

As digital payments reshape financial systems across emerging markets, Pakistan is undergoing one of the most significant transitions in its financial landscape. Speaking to The Express Tribune, JazzCash International Chairman and Veon Group Executive Committee Member Aamir Ibrahim said fintech solutions have become essential in countries where traditional banking has historically struggled to reach underserved populations. "In most frontier markets, mobile phones reached people long before banks did," Ibrahim noted. "That gap created an opportunity for fintechs to solve very basic, everyday problems – from making payments to opening a simple mobile wallet."