ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s push toward a digitally enabled, investment-ready economy received a significant boost on Monday as Federal Minister for IT & Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja threw her weight behind a landmark partnership between Fasset, an American-founded digital banking and investment platform, and Habib Rafiq Limited (HRL), one of Pakistan’s leading infrastructure and real estate development groups.
Addressing a high-profile gathering in Islamabad, the minister described the collaboration as a timely intervention aligned with the government’s Digital Nation Pakistan vision, aimed at expanding financial inclusion, modernising capital flows, and empowering Pakistan’s rapidly growing digital workforce.
“Pakistan’s digital economy is at a defining moment, powered by a young, skilled, and globally competitive workforce,” Shaza Fatima Khawaja said. “As our freelancers and tech professionals continue to export services at scale, it is essential to build secure financial infrastructure that allows them to receive, manage, and reinvest their income. Partnerships like this demonstrate how innovation and international collaboration can attract investment and strengthen Pakistan’s position in the global digital economy.”
Under the partnership, Fasset plans to enter the Pakistani market by leveraging HRL’s extensive domestic footprint, with a focus on unlocking what industry experts describe as Pakistan’s untapped asset potential. Central to the initiative is the tokenisation of real-world assets, creating digital investment pathways into Pakistan’s estimated USD1.5 trillion real estate and domestic asset market, alongside low-cost, real-time payout solutions for Pakistan’s freelance sector — the world’s fourth-largest.
The collaboration also aims to facilitate foreign direct investment by streamlining the flow of global capital into local projects through transparent, blockchain-enabled systems, offering overseas investors greater visibility and confidence in Pakistani assets.
Speaking at the event, Mohammad Raafi Hossain, CEO and co-founder of Fasset, said Pakistan represents one of the most dynamic and high-potential markets for digital finance. “Our mission is to enable 100 million people globally to own their wealth. This partnership with Habib Rafiq Limited connects global capital with Pakistani opportunity, ensuring that Pakistan’s digital workforce and domestic assets are accessible to the world,” he said.
HRL Vice Chairman Jahanzaib Zahid said the collaboration opens new avenues for overseas Pakistanis and international investors alike. “By combining HRL’s deep-rooted physical infrastructure with Fasset’s digital expertise, we are building a more transparent and accessible future for Pakistani investments,” he said.
The event drew senior government officials, business leaders, representatives of international organisations, diplomats, and digital-economy stakeholders, reflecting growing momentum behind fintech-led reforms. Observers say the partnership signals Pakistan’s intent to integrate blockchain-enabled finance, asset digitisation, and freelancer-focused payment systems into its broader economic strategy, at a time when attracting global capital and retaining digital export earnings have become national priorities.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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