Veon Group invests $20 million in Pakistan’s Mobilink Bank to accelerate digital Islamic banking

The undated picture shows exterior view of Moblink Bank in Islamabad, Pakistan. (Moblink Bank)
Short Url
Updated 02 January 2026
Follow

Veon Group invests $20 million in Pakistan’s Mobilink Bank to accelerate digital Islamic banking

  • The investment builds on $15 million capital deployed by Veon in January 2025
  • The capital will be used to scale the bank’s micro, small and medium enterprises

KARACHI: Global digital operator Veon Group has announced an investment of $20 million in Pakistan’s Mobilink Bank to support its growth and digital Islamic banking expansion in Pakistan, it said on Friday.

Mobilink Bank is a part of Veon Group, a global digital operator that provides services to over 150 million connectivity customers and over 140 million monthly active digital users. The Nasdaq-listed company operates across five countries that are home to more than 6 percent of the world’s population.

The investment builds on $15 million capital deployed by Veon in January 2025 and underscores its confidence in Mobilink Bank’s growth momentum and its integrated digital financial ecosystem with JazzCash, amid the rapid expansion of Pakistan’s digital banking and microfinance sector, according to Veon Group.

The capital will be used to scale Mobilink Bank’s micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) financing portfolio, advance its Islamic banking offerings, and strengthen its evolution into a technology-driven, digitally native bank, with a continued focus on expanding regulated financial access for underserved communities.

“This investment will accelerate the expansion of our shariah-compliant Islamic banking offerings, helping small businesses formalize cash flows, access regulated credit, and build long-term financial resilience,” said Haaris Mahmood Chaudhary, president and chief executive officer of Mobilink Bank.

“As a future-ready digital bank, our focus remains on delivering practical, technology-enabled financial solutions that empower entrepreneurs — particularly women and underserved communities — across Pakistan.”

Mobilink Bank’s expanding deposit base and MSME-oriented lending portfolio are enabling small businesses to transition from informal cash usage to regulated banking, while targeted women-centric financial products and green financing initiatives support inclusive growth and resilience in the face of Pakistan’s climate and economic challenges, according to a statement issued by Veon Group.

Mobilink Bank, together with JazzCash, which serves over 57 million customers and is supported by a nationwide network of more than one million merchants and agents, anchors one of Pakistan’s largest digital financial ecosystems. During the year, JazzCash processed gross transaction value exceeding Rs15 trillion ($53 billion), underscoring the scale, resilience, and impact of fintech in advancing financial inclusion, social mobility, and responsible digital innovation across Pakistan.

The investment reflects Veon Group’s broader digital strategy of strengthening high-impact financial ecosystems through technology-led solutions and disciplined capital deployment, positioning Mobilink Bank as a key contributor to Pakistan’s evolving financial sector, according to the global digital operator.

“This continued stream of investment from VEON underscores our long-term commitment to Pakistan and confidence in the structural shift underway in the country’s digital financial services ecosystem,” Veon Group Executive Committee Member and Chairman Mobilink Bank, Aamir Ibrahim, was quoted as saying.

“It strengthens Mobilink Bank and JazzCash’s ability to execute on our strategic priorities, invest in resilient technology infrastructure, and contribute to the development of inclusive and sustainable digital banking.”


Uzbekistan president to arrive in Pakistan today to strengthen trade, energy cooperation

Updated 15 min 40 sec ago
Follow

Uzbekistan president to arrive in Pakistan today to strengthen trade, energy cooperation

  • Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev to lead high-level delegation of ministers, business leaders on Feb. 5-6 visit, says Pakistan foreign office
  • Visit takes place days after Pakistan, Uzbekistan reaffirmed $2 billion trade target during intergovernmental commission meeting

ISLAMABAD: Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev will arrive in Pakistan today, Thursday, with a high-level delegation to identify new avenues for bilateral cooperation in trade, defense, energy and other avenues, Pakistan's foreign ministry said. 

The visit takes place after the 10th session of the Pakistan–Uzbekistan Intergovernmental Commission (IGC) on Trade, Economic and Scientific-Technical Cooperation in Islamabad on Feb. 2. Both sides reaffirmed their $2 billion trade target and areed to push for regional connectivity, develop trade routes and accelerate cooperation in several sectors. 

Mirziyoyev will lead a high-level delegation comprising senior ministers and business leaders on a two-day state visit, Pakistan's foreign ministry said. 

"Discussions will focus on reviewing the entire gamut of bilateral relations and identifying new avenues to further deepen cooperation in diverse sectors including trade, energy, defense, education, people-to-people exchange and regional connectivity," the statement said. 

The Uzbek leader's visit takes place two days after Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev arrived in Islamabad to hold talks on trade, business and connectivity. 

Pakistan and Kazakhstan signed 37 memoranda of understanding (MoUs) and set a target of raising bilateral trade to $1 billion within a year during Tokayev's visit. 

Pakistan and Uzbekistan have steadily increased economic ties in recent years as Islamabad seeks greater access to landlocked Central Asian markets, aiming to position itself as a regional transit and trade hub linking South Asia with Central Asia.

Pakistan was the first Central Asian partner with which Uzbekistan signed a bilateral Transit Trade Agreement, along with a Preferential Trade Agreement in March 2022, covering 17 items, which became operational in 2023.

Pakistan's finance ministry said last month that Azerbaijan's state energy company SOCAR was set to finalize an investment in the country’s oil and gas sector following high-level engagements at the World Economic Forum in Davos.