Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue, Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb, met a Mastercard delegation in Islamabad on November 4, 2026. The talks focused on strengthening cooperation in digital payments, financial inclusion and cybersecurity, as part of the government’s push toward a cashless economy.
The delegation was led by Mark Elliott, Division President for East Arabia. Also present were Arslan Khan, Country Manager for Pakistan and Afghanistan, and Jibran Jamshad, Director Public Sector for the same markets.
Minister stresses digital access and the cashless drive
Aurangzeb praised Mastercard’s long engagement with Pakistan’s financial sector and its interest in supporting the country’s digital transformation. He said the government was committed to expanding digital payments, improving access to financial services and making the economy more efficient and transparent.
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He also pointed to the Prime Minister’s cashless economy initiative. According to him, digital financial services could help agriculture, small and medium enterprises and other underserved segments, and reaching more people would be essential for financial inclusion on a larger scale.
Remittances and fraud prevention on the agenda
The discussions also covered cross-border remittances, digital payment infrastructure and cybersecurity. Aurangzeb stressed that cybersecurity and fraud prevention must remain central to building a secure and resilient digital financial ecosystem.
Elliott reaffirmed Mastercard’s long-term commitment to Pakistan and said the company wanted to use its global expertise and technological capabilities to support the country’s digital transformation. He identified possible collaboration in digital payment acceptance, financial inclusion, remittances and cybersecurity.
Aurangzeb welcomed Mastercard’s continued engagement and investment and reiterated the government’s commitment to innovation and public-private partnerships. Both sides expressed their resolve to stay closely engaged and explore practical avenues of cooperation for Pakistan’s digital economy.
