ABHI Microfinance Bank Limited (“ABHI Bank”) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Pathfinder Group to establish a strategic collaboration centered on agent interoperability, enabling wider access to formal financial services for underserved and frontline segments across Pakistan.

The partnership places Agent Interoperability at the core of the arrangement, allowing ABHI Bank to integrate with VRG’s interoperable agent platform. Through this collaboration, ABHI Bank customers will be able to access permissible banking and financial services via VRG’s agent interoperable network, in line with State Bank of Pakistan regulations extending banking reach beyond branches and smartphones.

ABHI has evolved from a fintech platform into a licensed microfinance bank with a clear focus: making finance accessible at the point where people live and work. This partnership reflects that direction, building shared infrastructure that allows financial services to travel through trusted agent networks and reach workers who remain outside traditional digital channels.

Alongside agent interoperability, ABHI Bank will provide its Earned Wage Access (EWA) services to eligible employees across Pathfinder Group and its portfolio of operating companies spanning security services, facilities management, manpower, and allied businesses. The service will allow employees to access a portion of their earned wages before payday, helping them manage routine expenses without financial stress.

ABHI Bank will also support Pathfinder Group through digital salary processing and bulk salary disbursement services, improving efficiency, transparency, and timeliness of salary payments for operational and frontline staff.

To further strengthen inclusion, the collaboration will leverage interoperable USSD rails, enabling ABHI’s EWA and salary customers, particularly feature-phone users to access basic financial services such as balance inquiries, transaction confirmations, and earned wage access, subject to regulatory and technical approvals.

Speaking on the partnership, Mariam Pervaiz, (CCO) ABHI Microfinance Bank, said: “Agent interoperability is a critical building block for financial inclusion in Pakistan. This collaboration allows us to extend banking access through shared infrastructure, while also delivering earned wage access and salary services to workers who need flexibility, not complexity.”

Muhammad Salman Ali, (CEO) Virtual Remittance Gateway, added: “Our agent Interoperability platform is built on modular, cloud-native middleware technology architecture, providing end-to-end secure transaction processing. Partnering with ABHI Bank enables us to combine Interoperable USSD with Agent Interoperable Network with practical financial solutions and services for our workforce and the wider ecosystem.”

Also present at the ceremony were Chairman Pathfinder Group Mr. Ikram Saigol and Entrepreneur in Residence Abhi Mr. Kabeer Naqvi alongside their teams.

As Pakistan’s leading life insurance provider, Jubilee Life Insurance partnered with InsurTech 2025 as the Title Sponsor, facilitating the Summit’s theme of marking “Pakistan’s Insurtech Decade: Vision 2030”. The event brought together industry leaders, innovators, and technology experts to explore the future of digitization, financial inclusion, and the growing influence of artificial intelligence in reshaping the insurance sector.

The Summit serves as a signification of the insurance sector’s commitment to accelerating Pakistan’s digital insurance evolution and supporting platforms that drive meaningful industry-wide progress.

Pakistan’s insurance sector is undergoing a rapid shift, powered by rising internet penetration, a growing fintech ecosystem, and increasing customer expectations for seamless, tech-driven services. With digital payments crossing USD 14 billion annually and smartphone penetration surpassing 53%, the momentum for digital transformation in financial services has never been stronger.

At the same time, minimal insurance penetration in the country highlights a significant opportunity for innovation-led growth. InsurTech 2025 plays a pivotal role in addressing this gap by bringing forward solutions that enable accessibility, affordability, and enhanced customer experiences.

With a sustainable goal to support initiatives that strengthen Pakistan’s future-ready insurance landscape, Jubilee Life Insurance continues to play a role. Its participation highlights the company’s ongoing efforts to broaden financial protection, champion digital convenience, and contribute to an inclusive, technology-enabled ecosystem that benefits individuals and communities nationwide.

As part of the partnership, Neem’s flagship payment solution is integrated across Jubilee Life’s digital platforms, including its website, mobile app, and agent portal, enabling customers to make premium payments via cards, bank transfers, digital wallets, and 1Bill cash channels. Additionally, Neem will support Jubilee Life’s agent network with smart, trackable payment links, simplifying customer transactions and improving collection efficiency. Real-time insights will be made available to Jubilee Life through the Neem Business Portal, enabling better visibility and financial control across all payment touchpoints.

The collaboration aims to modernise insurance payment solutions, making transactions more accessible and efficient for policyholders, agents, and stakeholders. By leveraging Neem’s embedded financial infrastructure, Jubilee Life will enhance its customer experience and bring greater agility to its operational processes.

Commenting on the development, Javed Ahmed, Managing Director & CEO, Jubilee Life stated: “At Jubilee Life, we are committed to creating customer-centric solutions powered by innovation. Partnering with Neem allows us to digitise our financial flows, empower our agents, and ultimately deliver a seamless and secure payment experience to our policyholders across Pakistan.”

“Insurance is a cornerstone of Pakistan’s financial ecosystem, and we’re excited to partner with Jubilee Life in building future-ready payment infrastructure,” said Nadeem Raoof Shaikh, Co-founder of Neem. “Together, we’re not only simplifying payments, but also are collaborating with Jubilee Life to further connect with their customers in a real-time, digital-first world.”