T bills & JazzCash

JazzCash and Mobilink Bank, in collaboration with the finance ministry and the State Bank, launched Government of Pakistan Treasury Bills on the JazzCash app at an event held at JazzCash headquarters in Islamabad. For the first time, Pakistanis can invest in government-backed securities directly from a digital wallet, a development that extends formal investment access well beyond the country’s approximately 1.4m existing public market participants.

The launch represents a significant step in democratising access to sovereign investment products and advancing Pakistan’s financial inclusion agenda through digital channels, acccording to a press release.

Finance minister Muhammad Aurangzeb said, “Under the prime minister’s vision for a digital economy, the government is working to deepen Pakistan’s financial markets, mobilise domestic savings and expand citizens’ participation in the formal economy. A stronger economy requires more Pakistanis to have access to regulated financial assets beyond conventional savings products.

“By enabling investment in government securities, starting with T-bills from as little as Rs5,000 through a trusted digital platform such as JazzCash, this initiative translates that broader vision into practical access for citizens while helping build a wider and more diversified domestic investor base.”

Access to T-Bills is now live on the JazzCash app. The product initially offers 3-month T-bills, with longer tenors planned for later phases. Eligible customers with a verified JazzCash account and an active Mobilink Bank deposit account can invest digitally, with Mobilink Bank acting as the regulated custodian and trustee.

Accelerating digital transformation

ABHI Microfinance Bank and Nadra Technologies Limited have entered into a strategic partnership to explore opportunities to advance digital financial services and strengthen access to secure, technology-enabled solutions for individuals and businesses across Pakistan, states a press release.

The partnership marks a significant step towards fostering innovation within the financial sector by bringing together ABHI Microfinance Bank’s commitment to inclusive banking and Nadra Technologies’ expertise in digital infrastructure and technology solutions.

PSW wins awards

In a historic achievement for Pakistan’s digital transformation and trade facilitation, Pakistan Single Window (PSW) has been declared one of the three winners of the prestigious Asia-Pacific Trade Facilitation Innovation Awards 2026, according to a press release.

The award was presented during Paperless Trade Week 2026 in Bangkok, an elite global forum jointly organised by the Asian Development Bank and the United Nations ESCAP under the theme ‘Next Generation Trade Digitalisation — Advancing Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation’.

The award was received by Syed Aftab Haider, Chief Executive Officer of Pakistan Single Window, on behalf of PSW and Pakistan. This recognition highlights PSW’s strategic role in advancing Pakistan’s digital trade ecosystem, improving regulatory efficiency, and contributing to the country’s broader economic modernisation.

Agricultural futures

Pakistan Mercantile Exchange Limited (PMEX) and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) have entered into a cooperation agreement to strengthen Pakistan’s agricultural commodities futures market and support the implementation of the Electronic Warehouse Receipt (EWR) regime, as per a press release.

The partnership aims to enhance transparency, efficiency, and private sector participation in commodity markets. Strengthening price discovery and risk management tools will help farmers, traders, processors, and investors make informed business decisions.

The initiative is also expected to support investment in warehousing infrastructure, reduce post-harvest losses, and contribute to food security in Pakistan. Maize, rice, cotton and wheat have been identified as priority commodities for futures trading on the PMEX platform.

Under the agreement, IFC will support a review of the existing regulatory framework governing the storage, transportation, and trading of agricultural commodities and recommend reforms to strengthen the enabling environment.

IFC will also facilitate stakeholder engagement, support the development of futures contracts, and lead awareness and capacity-building initiatives to promote futures trading and the wider adoption of electronic warehouse receipts.

Published in Dawn, The Business and Finance Weekly, June 22nd, 2026