In a move that could reshape Pakistan’s digital payments landscape, Habib Bank Limited (HBL) and foodpanda Pakistan are exploring a strategic partnership aimed at unlocking new avenues for financial inclusion and digital growth. This potential collaboration underscores how financial institutions and e-commerce platforms can work together to transform how people pay, shop, and bank in one of the fastest-growing digital economies in the region.
Pakistan’s young population is a major driving force behind this shift. With over 64% of the country’s population under the age of 30, e-commerce platforms have become central to how this generation engages with products, services, and financial ecosystems. The rapid expansion of smartphones and internet access is creating a fertile environment for digital payment solutions to flourish, bridging the gap between traditional banking and emerging digital platforms.
Currently, 47% of foodpanda users complete their transactions using cards, while the remaining 53% still rely on cash-on-delivery. This reliance on cash represents a major opportunity to drive behavioral change by offering secure, fast, and convenient digital payment alternatives. Transitioning these cash transactions into digital ones not only enhances customer experience but also opens the door to new banking relationships for millions of Pakistanis who remain outside the formal financial system.
For HBL, this collaboration is about more than just increasing transaction volumes. It represents a strategic step toward creating an ecosystem that brings financial services closer to where people already interact digitally. By leveraging foodpanda’s vast network of customers and delivery partners, HBL aims to enhance convenience, build trust, and expand accessibility in a way that aligns with the country’s evolving digital landscape.
The partnership also aligns with broader national goals of increasing financial inclusion and digitizing payments. As Pakistan continues to strengthen its digital infrastructure and regulatory frameworks, collaborations between banks and digital platforms are becoming essential drivers of innovation. By converting everyday cash transactions into seamless digital experiences, the financial sector can play a pivotal role in accelerating economic growth and improving access to formal financial services.
E-commerce has rapidly evolved from being a niche sector to a core pillar of the country’s digital economy. Platforms like foodpanda, with their widespread consumer reach and trusted brand presence, are uniquely positioned to accelerate the adoption of digital financial services. When combined with HBL’s financial expertise, the collaboration has the potential to set new standards for secure, inclusive, and scalable digital payment solutions.
This initiative also comes at a time when consumer preferences are shifting rapidly toward convenience-driven solutions. The ability to pay digitally through trusted channels not only improves operational efficiency for merchants and platforms but also empowers customers with greater control over their financial interactions.
The evolving digital payment landscape in Pakistan represents a significant opportunity for financial institutions to redefine their role in everyday commerce. By exploring partnerships like this, HBL is signaling a clear commitment to driving innovation, enhancing accessibility, and enabling a more inclusive digital economy.
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