In a strategic move to reinforce its digital infrastructure and strengthen its commitment to secure banking services, Al Baraka Bank Pakistan Limited has signed an agreement with Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) to utilize PTCL’s Tier-III Data Center facility for primary colocation services. The agreement underscores the bank’s ongoing efforts to modernize its IT capabilities as part of its broader technology transformation strategy.
Under the partnership, PTCL will provide Al Baraka Bank with a state-of-the-art Data Center environment that includes robust infrastructure, managed security services, and scalable platform solutions. PTCL’s Tier-III certified facility offers high availability, resilience, and stringent data protection standards, aligning with the operational demands of Pakistan’s evolving digital banking landscape.
The agreement was formalized at a signing ceremony held at Al Baraka Bank’s head office in Karachi. Asif Ahmad, Group Chief Business Solutions Officer at PTCL and Ufone 4G, and Muhammad Atif Hanif, Chief Executive Officer of Al Baraka Bank Pakistan Limited, signed the agreement in the presence of key leadership from both organizations. Attendees included Shahid Sumar, Chief Information Officer, and Syed Muhammad Saqib, Head of IT Infrastructure from Al Baraka Bank; and from PTCL, Basharat Qureshi, Group VP Enterprise; Sayyed Imran Bukhari, Group VP B2B Strategy; Saleem Ullah Baig, Group VP DC Operations; and Umar Farooqi, Group Director Enterprise, along with other officials.
Speaking at the occasion, Asif Ahmad remarked, “We are pleased to enter a partnership with Al Baraka Bank Pakistan Limited to support their information technology and digital transformation vision. As the national carrier, PTCL remains committed to enabling leading organizations to adopt advanced technology solutions that are central to driving Pakistan’s digital economy.”
Echoing this sentiment, Muhammad Atif Hanif stated, “We are delighted to partner with PTCL as our trusted Data Center services provider. This collaboration is a major milestone in our strategic efforts to enhance our platform capabilities and deliver a secure, efficient, and digitally empowered banking experience to our customers. Leveraging PTCL’s technical expertise and infrastructure will significantly improve our operational agility and data resilience.”
Al Baraka Bank’s decision to move to a colocation model reflects a broader industry shift toward scalable, secure, and cost-effective IT infrastructure. By outsourcing core hosting requirements to PTCL’s Tier-III facility, the bank aims to reduce latency, minimize time-to-market, and ensure uninterrupted access to digital services for both customers and internal stakeholders.
PTCL continues to expand its footprint in the enterprise technology space, offering tailored ICT and security solutions to clients across banking, telecom, manufacturing, and government sectors. This collaboration with Al Baraka Bank reinforces PTCL’s role as a key enabler of Pakistan’s digital infrastructure and highlights the rising demand for high-performance data solutions in the financial sector.
The partnership between Al Baraka Bank and PTCL marks a pivotal step in integrating secure data environments with banking innovation, paving the way for a more responsive, compliant, and technology-driven financial ecosystem in Pakistan.