Pakistan’s digital economy received a notable boost as Federal Minister for IT and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja endorsed the launch of the Fasset App in Pakistan, marking the company’s formal entry into the market through a strategic partnership with Habib Rafiq Limited (HRL). The collaboration signals a push toward expanding access to digital assets, modernising capital flows, and strengthening financial inclusion in one of South Asia’s fastest-growing digital workforces.
Speaking at a high-profile event in Islamabad, the minister described the Fasset-HRL partnership as aligned with the government’s Digital Nation Pakistan vision. She emphasised that Pakistan stands at a defining point in its digital transformation, powered by a young, skilled, and globally competitive workforce that continues to export technology services at scale.
“Pakistan’s digital economy is at a defining moment,” Shaza Fatima Khawaja said. “As our freelancers and tech professionals continue to export services globally, it is critical to establish secure financial infrastructure that enables them to receive, manage, and reinvest their earnings. Partnerships like this highlight how innovation and international collaboration can attract investment while strengthening Pakistan’s position in the global digital landscape.”
Fasset, an American-founded digital banking and investment platform, plans to leverage HRL’s extensive domestic footprint to establish operations in Pakistan. The initiative is centered on unlocking what industry stakeholders describe as the country’s untapped asset potential, particularly through the tokenisation of real-world assets. By digitising access to physical assets, the partnership aims to create new investment pathways into Pakistan’s estimated $1.5 trillion real estate and domestic asset market.
A key component of the strategy is enabling blockchain-powered investment channels that allow both local and overseas investors to access Pakistani assets with enhanced transparency and traceability. The model is also designed to facilitate foreign direct investment by streamlining the flow of global capital into local infrastructure and development projects. Through blockchain-enabled systems, overseas investors are expected to gain greater visibility and confidence when participating in Pakistan’s asset markets.
In addition to real estate tokenisation, the partnership places strong focus on Pakistan’s freelance sector, which is ranked as the fourth-largest in the world. Fasset intends to introduce low-cost, real-time payout solutions tailored to freelancers and digital professionals, addressing longstanding challenges around cross-border payments, currency management, and reinvestment of earnings.
Mohammad Raafi Hossain, CEO and co-founder of Fasset, described Pakistan as one of the most dynamic markets for digital finance expansion. “Our mission is to enable 100 million people globally to own their wealth,” he said. “This partnership with Habib Rafiq Limited connects global capital with Pakistani opportunity, ensuring that the country’s digital workforce and domestic assets are accessible to the world.”
HRL Vice Chairman Jahanzaib Zahid noted that the collaboration bridges physical infrastructure with digital financial systems. By combining HRL’s established presence in infrastructure and real estate development with Fasset’s expertise in digital asset platforms, he said the partnership aims to build a more transparent and accessible framework for investment in Pakistan.
The event drew senior government officials, business leaders, diplomats, representatives of international organisations, and stakeholders from the digital economy, reflecting growing momentum behind fintech-driven reforms. Observers suggest the move signals Pakistan’s intent to integrate blockchain-enabled finance, asset digitisation, and freelancer-focused financial solutions into its broader economic strategy at a time when attracting global capital and retaining export earnings from digital services have become national priorities.
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