Lahore, March 20, 2026 – The Europe Today/GNP: In a major step toward advancing Pakistan’s Digital Pakistan vision, the Ravi Urban Development Authority (RUDA) and easypaisa digital bank have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to promote digital financial inclusion across 93 villages under RUDA’s jurisdiction.
The signing ceremony, held at RUDA’s Head Office in Lahore, established a collaborative framework aimed at raising awareness and expanding access to branchless banking services for residents and small businesses.
The MoU was signed by Shahzad Khan, Chief Business Officer of easypaisa digital bank, and Brig. (Retd.) Bakhtiar Akram, Executive Director Land Acquisition at RUDA, in the presence of senior officials from both organizations.
Under the partnership, RUDA and easypaisa will work together to support the Prime Minister’s Cashless Pakistan initiative, with a shared vision of transforming Ravi City into a fully cashless model urban center. The initiative seeks to embed digital financial solutions into residential, commercial, and public sectors, creating a seamless ecosystem where digital transactions enhance transparency, convenience, and economic efficiency.
Speaking on the occasion, Shahzad Khan highlighted easypaisa’s extensive reach, noting that every fifth Pakistani now holds an easypaisa account. He said the partnership reflects the bank’s commitment to fostering financial inclusion at the grassroots level and enabling underserved communities to participate in the digital economy.
Brig. (Retd.) Bakhtiar Akram described the collaboration as a convergence of technology and development, emphasizing its potential to transform 93 villages into model communities of economic modernization. He reiterated RUDA’s commitment to inclusive growth aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the national vision of a cashless economy.
Fatima Ali Khan, Director Special Initiatives, CSR and Diversity at RUDA, stressed the importance of bringing unbanked rural populations into the formal financial system through targeted awareness and outreach programs.
Meanwhile, Syed Moazzam Ali, Deputy Director Special Initiatives at RUDA, noted that the initiative would also empower local shopkeepers to act as digital service hubs, making financial transactions more accessible, secure, and transparent for communities. He added that the partnership could expand into broader social initiatives, including girls’ education and access to clean drinking water.
With over 59 million registered users, easypaisa—Pakistan’s first digital bank to commence commercial operations—continues to align with the State Bank of Pakistan’s vision of inclusive economic growth by expanding financial services to unbanked and underbanked populations across the country.
