The Pakistani government is advancing plans to support non-resident Pakistanis, especially those in Gulf countries, by enabling secure remittance transfers through PayPak, the nation’s domestic payment scheme operated by 1Link. This initiative was highlighted by Prime Minister Youth Programme (PMYP) Chairman Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan during a meeting with stakeholders in Karachi, including 1Link CEO Najeeb Agrawalla and Pakistan Freelancers Association (PAFLA) Chairman Ibrahim Amin.
In the fiscal year ending June, Pakistan received over $38.3 billion in remittances, with Gulf-based Pakistanis contributing a substantial portion. The government aims to address core challenges faced by overseas Pakistanis through innovative and affordable digital solutions, expanding PayPak’s reach to support secure, structured remittance flows and cross-border transactions, including those related to Hajj and Umrah.
Launched in 2016, PayPak is Pakistan’s first and only domestic payment scheme, positioning the country among 28 nations with their own domestic payment systems to drive financial inclusion and digitization.
1Link has proposed leveraging its technological platform to facilitate these remittance services. PAFLA emphasized outreach to the estimated 4 million Pakistanis in the Gulf region who currently lack reliable and user-friendly digital payment options, committing to collaboration with diplomatic missions, banks, and agencies to engage this community.