Advancing Pakistan’s Digital Payment Future with Co-Badged Cards

Pakistan’s efforts to modernize its domestic payments landscape took an important step forward with the launch of Faysal Bank’s co-badged card, combining both international (MasterCard) and national (PayPak) payment capabilities.

The new co-badged product enables Pakistani consumers to enjoy seamless international and e-commerce transactions, while ensuring all local payments are settled domestically. This solution directly addresses long-standing challenges such as limited global and online acceptance of domestic cards and helps strengthen the utility and appeal of Pakistan’s homegrown payment scheme. PayPak, launched in 2016, has grown to account for over a quarter of the nation’s debit cards, but its actual usage lags due in part to its reputation as a low-value, budget option and barriers to acceptance overseas and online. Through initiatives like co-badging, targeted marketing, and broader integration with payment gateways, the State Bank aims to elevate PayPak’s profile and improve its adoption among consumers and merchants.

This move is strategically significant for Pakistan, as it supports the central bank’s broader goal to build a secure, competitive, and self-reliant payments ecosystem—helping drive financial inclusion, foster innovation, and steer the country toward sustainable digital growth.