By Rafiq Vayani
ISLAMABAD: In a significant step toward strengthening small business financing in Pakistan, ABHI Microfinance Bank has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with DigiKhata, a leading digital ledger platform used by small and medium enterprises (SMEs), to enable structured financing solutions for businesses operating on DigiKhata’s platform.
The partnership is designed to connect digitally active SMEs with formal financial services, allowing eligible merchants and businesses on DigiKhata to access financing through ABHI Microfinance Bank. By combining DigiKhata’s digital business ecosystem with ABHI’s regulated banking infrastructure, the collaboration aims to help SMEs unlock working capital and accelerate business growth.
DigiKhata’s platform, widely used by small retailers and traders to manage sales, credit, and inventory records, generates digital transaction trails that can support more informed credit assessment. Through this integration, ABHI Microfinance Bank will be able to extend financing solutions to SMEs based on structured evaluation processes, bringing more businesses into the formal credit landscape.
Industry experts note that access to timely working capital remains one of the biggest barriers to SME growth in Pakistan. By embedding financial services within digital platforms already used by businesses, such partnerships are helping bridge the gap between informal trade and formal banking channels.
The initiative is expected to support business expansion, inventory management, and cash flow stability for small merchants, enabling them to scale operations with greater financial confidence. The move also aligns with broader efforts to promote financial inclusion by bringing underserved business segments into the documented economy.
The MoU was formally signed by Mariam Pervaiz, Chief Communications Officer, ABHI Microfinance Bank, and Adnan Aslam, Chief Executive Officer, DigiKhata. Also present at the ceremony was Kabeer Naqvi, Entrepreneur in Residence at ABHI Financials, along with representatives from both organisations.
Mariam Pervaiz, CCO, ABHI Microfinance Bank, said the collaboration reflects the Bank’s focus on empowering small businesses through technology-driven finance.
“SMEs are the backbone of Pakistan’s economy, yet many remain outside the formal financial system. By partnering with DigiKhata, we are meeting businesses where they already operate digitally and enabling access to responsible financing that can help them grow, stabilise cash flows, and scale sustainably.”
Adnan Aslam, CEO, DigiKhata, highlighted the importance of linking digital record-keeping with access to capital.
“Small businesses today are generating valuable financial data through digital tools, but access to formal credit has often remained out of reach. This partnership with ABHI Microfinance Bank creates a pathway for merchants on DigiKhata to turn their digital activity into financial opportunity, supporting the next phase of their growth.”
The partnership signals a broader shift in Pakistan’s financial landscape, where digital platforms and banks are increasingly working together to build inclusive financial ecosystems that support entrepreneurship, economic resilience, and business formalization.
