1LINK expects payment transactions to exceed 12bn in 2026

KARACHI: Amid Pakistan’s rapid growth in digital payments, 1LINK expects transaction volumes on its payment rails to exceed 12 billion in 2026, covering financial and non-financial transactions, value-added services, and Fraud Risk Management Services, with total transaction throughput projected to approach Rs90 trillion.

In 2025, 1LINK (Pvt) Limited has processed over 10 billion transactions with a total value of PKR 75.4 trillion, representing nearly 20 percent growth in transaction volume and 19.3 percent growth in transaction value.

Syed Suleman Hasan, Chief Corporate Affairs and Company Secretary at 1LINK, said the company is currently on track to process payment transactions equivalent to approximately 75 percent of Pakistan’s GDP, underscoring the scale of its contribution to the country’s digital economy.

As 1LINK celebrates its 22nd anniversary, the company continues to play a central role in Pakistan’s digital financial ecosystem, having spent more than two decades connecting banks, businesses, government entities, and consumers through secure, interoperable payment infrastructure. According to the latest data, 1IBFT remains one of Pakistan’s largest digital payment channels. From January to September 2026, 1IBFT processed approximately 998.9 million transactions valued at PKR 43.7 trillion. Meanwhile, 1BILL, Pakistan’s largest bill aggregation platform, facilitated around 170.6 million transactions worth PKR 12.3 trillion over the same period, while the company’s ATM Switching network processed approximately 285.4 million transactions valued at PKR 3.2 trillion.

In the payment card segment, PayPak, Pakistan’s domestic payment scheme, has issued approximately 16.8 million cards and commands nearly 28 percent market share of all debit cards in circulation, further strengthening the country’s indigenous payments infrastructure.

Suleman Hasan said the rapid growth of digital payments is transforming the way individuals and businesses conduct financial transactions, reducing dependence on cash and enabling faster, more efficient financial services.

“Today, consumers can transfer funds, pay bills, make purchases, and access a wide range of banking services through digital channels in a matter of seconds. This convenience has significantly improved customer experience and contributed to the broader adoption of digital finance,” he said.

He noted that 1LINK’s infrastructure also supports various government payment and collection initiatives, helping improve efficiency, transparency and convenience in public-sector transactions.

Looking ahead, Suleman Hasan said Pakistan’s digital payments landscape holds tremendous growth potential, driven by increasing smartphone penetration, expanding digital banking adoption and growing acceptance of electronic payments among consumers and merchants.

He added that 1LINK remains committed to collaborating with banks, fintechs, regulators and other ecosystem participants to strengthen Pakistan’s digital financial infrastructure and accelerate the country’s transition towards a digitally enabled economy.

“Technology has fundamentally changed how people interact with financial services. As we celebrate 22 years of serving Pakistan, our focus remains on enabling innovation, promoting interoperability and delivering payment infrastructure that supports the evolving needs of consumers, businesses and the national economy,” he said. With transaction volumes continuing to rise and digital adoption accelerating across the country, 1LINK expects its role in Pakistan’s payments ecosystem to become even more significant in the years ahead, reinforcing its position as a key enabler of the nation’s digital future.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026