1LINK (Private) Limited, Pakistan’s first fully licensed and designated Payment System Operator, has welcomed its newly constituted Board of Directors as the company begins a new board tenure focused on strengthening corporate governance, strategic leadership and its contribution to Pakistan’s rapidly evolving digital payments ecosystem. The new Board held its first meeting on July 31, 2026, marking the formal commencement of its tenure. The meeting provided an opportunity for the directors to discuss the foundation for 1LINK’s next phase of growth and consider the company’s continued role in supporting Pakistan’s national payments infrastructure. The development comes as digital payments continue to become an increasingly important part of the country’s financial ecosystem.
The newly constituted Board is chaired by Atif Bajwa, President and Chief Executive Officer of Bank Alfalah Limited. Nassir Salim, President and Chief Executive Officer of Habib Bank Limited, has joined as a Nominee Director, while Yousaf Hussain, President and Chief Executive Officer of Faysal Bank Limited, is also serving as a Nominee Director. The Board also includes Mujahid Ali, Chief Technology and Digital Transformation at Allied Bank Limited, as a Nominee Director. Abdul Wahid Sethi, Chief Financial Officer of National Bank of Pakistan, has joined as another Nominee Director, while Ali Naqvi, Chief Digital Officer of Askari Bank Limited, is serving as a Nominee Director. The independent representation on the Board includes Ammara Masood, Global Industry General Manager for Banking and Financial Services at Systems Limited, and Tania Aidrus, Chief Executive Officer of Waseela Global. One additional position for an Independent Director is yet to be decided. Najeeb Agrawalla, Chief Executive Officer of 1LINK, is also part of the newly constituted Board.
The composition brings together senior executives from major banks, technology and digital transformation functions, financial services and independent business leadership. Their combined representation reflects the increasingly interconnected nature of banking, technology and payment infrastructure as Pakistan continues to expand digital financial services. Following the Board meeting, 1LINK organized a special Town Hall for its employees. More than 450 employees attended the session, which provided an opportunity for the workforce to meet the newly appointed Board members and hear directly about the company’s direction.
During the Town Hall, Atif Bajwa, Chairman of the Board, addressed employees and shared the Board’s collective vision for 1LINK’s future. His remarks emphasized leadership, collaboration and innovation, while also highlighting the importance of 1LINK’s employees in supporting the company’s continued development and success. The Town Hall also provided a platform for the new Board to engage with the organization’s workforce as the company begins its new phase under the recently constituted leadership. The emphasis on employee participation reflects the importance of institutional capabilities in maintaining and expanding payment infrastructure that supports financial institutions and their customers.
Welcoming the new Board, Najeeb Agrawalla, Chief Executive Officer of 1LINK, congratulated the directors on the commencement of their tenure. He expressed confidence that the Board would provide strategic guidance as the company continues working to strengthen Pakistan’s national payments infrastructure and create greater value for the wider financial ecosystem. As Pakistan’s payment landscape continues to evolve, 1LINK remains a key component of the country’s digital financial infrastructure. Its role as a licensed Payment System Operator places the company at the intersection of banks, financial institutions, digital payment services and the broader payments ecosystem.
The beginning of the new Board’s tenure therefore represents an important governance development for the company as it prepares for its next stage of growth. With senior leadership from several major financial institutions, technology and digital transformation specialists, independent directors and 1LINK’s executive management represented on the Board, the company is positioned to continue focusing on the development of Pakistan’s national payments infrastructure and the expansion of its contribution to the digital financial ecosystem.
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