Pakistani fintech ABHI, after Middle East expansion, launches microfinance bank

KARACHI: Pakistani fintech ABHI, which expanded its operations to the United Arab of Emirates (UAE) and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, has launched ABHI Microfinance Bank in collaboration with TPL Corp, the company said on Thursday.
Founded in 2021, ABHI has been serving customers in Pakistan, UAE, Saudi Arabia and Bangladesh through its credit-bridging products such as the Earned Wage Access (EWA) facility.
TPL Corp. is the investment holding company of the TPL Group with investments across the insurance, real estate, transport, securities, technology and financial sectors
ABHI said its strategic collaboration, approved by the Pakistani central bank, was a major step toward redefining financial inclusion in the South Asian country.
“This acquisition marks a significant step toward strengthening Pakistan’s financial ecosystem and expanding access to credit for unserved and underserved communities,” the fintech firm quoted State Bank of Pakistan Governor Jameel Ahmed as saying at the launch of ABHI Microfinance Bank.
“Collaborations like these play a vital role in driving financial inclusion and empowering individuals and businesses across the country.”
The event, hosted by ABHI and TPL Corp. in Karachi, brought together international investors, industry leaders, financial experts and key stakeholders, serving as a platform to highlight the collective vision of the three entities in transforming Pakistan’s financial landscape.
The development comes as Pakistan seeks to increase financial inclusion and document its economy as the South Asian country treads a tricky path to economic recovery under a $7 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) program.
SBP Governor Ahmad this week said the central bank has set a target to increase bank account coverage in the country to 75 percent of the adult population and to reduce the gender gap to 25 percent by 2028.
Pakistan, with a population of 240 million, is home to one of the world’s largest unbanked populations, with around 64 percent of its adult population having a bank account, according to central bank figures.
The central bank chief also urged the banking industry to increase their usage of artificial intelligence, based on cellular and satellite data, to provide cost-effective alternative delivery channels to enhance access, usage and quality of financial services.