Advance Robotics Innovation: ABL partners with CHISEL Lab

LAHORE: Allied Bank, one of Pakistan’s leading commercial banks, has entered into a strategic R&D collaboration with CHISEL Lab at the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) to explore the potential of robotics and Human-Robot Interaction (HRI) in transforming banking experiences.

The agreement was signed by Muhammad Zaman, Group Head, Digital Transfo-rmation & Innovation, Allied Bank, and Dr Suleman Shahid, Associate Professor and Director, CHISEL Lab at LUMS, in the presence of representatives from both institutions.

Under this collaboration, Allied Bank has deployed a Pepper Robot at CHISEL Lab as a dedicated research platform. The initiative will focus on developing and piloting robotics-driven use cases across customer interaction, service delivery, and assistive banking environments. Selected solutions will be tested in real-world settings, including Allied Bank Digital Lounges, to evaluate scalability and customer adoption.

A Joint Innovation Steering Group will oversee the initiative, with expected outcomes including functional prototypes, pilot insights, potential joint publications, and further strengthening the bridge between academia and industry.

“This collaboration reflects Allied Bank’s commitment to shaping the future of banking through emerging technologies. By leveraging robotics and human-robot interaction, we aim to deliver more intuitive, efficient, and personalized customer experiences,” commented Muhammad Zaman.

“Partnering with Allied Bank enables us to translate cutting-edge research into real-world impact. This collaboration will accelerate innovation in human-robot interaction and open new avenues for intelligent, human-centric service design,” shared Dr Suleman Shahid.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026