Pakistan’s digital payment landscape is expanding rapidly, with payment infrastructure provider 1LINK expecting more than 12 billion transactions worth nearly Rs90 trillion in 2026.
The projection highlights the growing shift toward electronic payments as consumers, businesses and government institutions increasingly rely on digital channels for transferring money, paying bills and accessing financial services.
Digital Transactions Continue to Grow
In 2025, 1LINK processed more than 10 billion transactions with a combined value of Rs75.4 trillion. According to the company, transaction volumes increased by almost 20% during the year, while the overall value of transactions rose by around 19.3%.
The company expects this upward trend to continue throughout 2026 as digital banking becomes more widely adopted across Pakistan.
Syed Suleman Hasan, Chief Corporate Affairs and Company Secretary at 1LINK, said the company was on course to process payment transactions equivalent to approximately 75% of Pakistan’s GDP.
It is important to understand that this figure represents payment-system throughput rather than economic output. Money can pass through a payment network multiple times, meaning transaction value and GDP measure different aspects of economic activity.
1IBFT Leads Digital Fund Transfers
One of the major contributors to Pakistan’s digital payment activity is 1IBFT, which enables electronic fund transfers between participating financial institutions.
Between January and September 2026, 1IBFT processed approximately 998.9 million transactions worth Rs43.7 trillion. The figures demonstrate the scale at which consumers and businesses are using electronic channels to move funds.
The company’s 1BILL service also recorded significant activity during the first nine months of the year. It processed around 170.6 million transactions valued at Rs12.3 trillion, reflecting the growing preference for digital bill payments.
Meanwhile, 1LINK’s ATM Switching network handled approximately 285.4 million transactions worth Rs3.2 trillion during the same period.
PayPak Expands Its Presence
Pakistan’s domestic payment scheme, PayPak, is also gaining ground. The network has issued approximately 16.8 million cards, accounting for nearly 28% of debit cards currently in circulation.
The growing presence of domestic payment cards supports efforts to develop a stronger local payments ecosystem and provides consumers with another electronic alternative to cash.
Pakistan’s Shift Away From Cash
The latest figures point toward a broader change in how Pakistanis manage their money.
Digital platforms now allow customers to transfer funds, pay utility bills, make purchases and access banking services without relying as heavily on physical cash. For businesses, electronic payments can also improve transaction efficiency and make it easier to manage collections and payments.
The expansion of smartphones and digital banking services is expected to accelerate this transformation. As more consumers gain access to mobile financial services and more merchants begin accepting electronic payments, the potential for further growth remains substantial.
Technology at the Center of Financial Transformation
1LINK, which is marking its 22nd anniversary, plays an important role in Pakistan’s payment infrastructure by connecting banks, fintech companies and other participants within the financial ecosystem.
The company also supports government payment and collection initiatives, highlighting the increasingly important role of digital infrastructure in both commercial and public-sector transactions.
Hasan said technology has fundamentally changed the way people interact with financial services. He added that 1LINK’s focus remains on supporting innovation, strengthening interoperability and developing payment infrastructure capable of meeting the changing needs of consumers, businesses and the wider economy.
The Road Ahead
Pakistan’s digital payments market appears set for another year of substantial growth. If 1LINK’s projection is achieved, crossing the 12-billion-transaction mark in 2026 would represent another major milestone for the country’s electronic payments ecosystem.
Continued smartphone adoption, wider availability of digital banking services and increasing merchant acceptance could further reduce reliance on cash.
For Pakistan, the growth of digital payments is more than simply a technology trend. It represents an evolving financial ecosystem in which faster transfers, electronic bill payments, digital purchases and interoperable banking services are becoming increasingly embedded in everyday economic activity.
As adoption continues, payment networks such as 1LINK are likely to remain an important part of Pakistan’s transition toward a more connected and digitally enabled financial system.