The National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) successfully conducted its 2nd Merchant Sales Conference in Lahore, marking a significant step in its ongoing mission to expand digital payment adoption across the country. Hosted in collaboration with Golootlo, NBP’s strategic debit card alliance partner, the event served as a high-level forum for senior leadership from NBP, global payment schemes, and fintech innovators. The primary objective of the conference was to align internal and external stakeholders toward a shared goal of strengthening Pakistan’s cashless payments ecosystem, particularly by enhancing merchant acquiring capabilities and fostering a culture of secure, interoperable digital transactions.
The conference opened with a keynote address by Mr. Rehmat Ali Hasnie, President & CEO of NBP, who detailed the bank’s strategic vision for scaling digital infrastructure. Mr. Hasnie emphasized the importance of extending merchant acceptance beyond major urban centers into semi-urban markets to ensure inclusive financial growth. This vision was further explored during a fireside chat led by Mr. Adnan Nasir, SEVP and Chief Digital Officer, who discussed NBP’s digital transformation journey. The session, which included contributions from Mr. Fouad Farrukh, Group Chief of Islamic Banking, and Mr. Syed Mujtaba Abbas, Group Chief of Retail Banking, highlighted how the bank’s mobile app and debit card products are being leveraged to drive transaction volume and merchant enablement.
Central to the day’s agenda were two specialized panel discussions that tackled the practicalities of a cashless society. The first panel, chaired by the Head of Cards, focused on creating effective merchant incentives and collaborative strategies between payment schemes to accelerate debit card usage. The second panel, led by the Division Head of the Digital Banking Group, delved into the technical side of merchant acquiring, discussing technology enablement and the vital role of fintech partnerships in improving transaction efficiency. By bringing together diverse perspectives from across the financial services value chain, NBP reinforced its commitment to being a leading driver of digital financial inclusion and a transparent retail economy in Pakistan.
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