DIFC Innovation Hub, the world’s largest startup and innovation hub operating at Dubai International Financial Center (DIFC), in partnership with Pakistan Digital Authority, will launch the Pakistan FinTech Summit on August 18 and 19, 2026, positioning Pakistan as a strategic growth market in the global FinTech landscape.
Pakistan FinTech Summit (PFS) is the first international outing of Dubai FinTech Summit, one of the world’s premier gatherings of financial and fintech leaders, hosted by DIFC, a leading global financial center in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) region.
Bringing together the region’s most influential policymakers, financial institutions, technology leaders, investors and innovators, the Pakistan FinTech Summit aims to foster Pakistan’s rapidly evolving digital economy and accelerate the country’s position as a regional fintech and digital financial services hub.
Arif Amiri, CEO of DIFC Authority, said: “We are pleased to expand the Dubai FinTech Summit to Pakistan, a rapidly emerging fintech hub. It is a powerful reflection of Dubai’s ambitions and confirms Dubai’s commitment to enabling growth and unlocking opportunities for cross-border innovation between the UAE, Pakistan and South Asia. By providing our expertise and thought leadership to such an influential gathering, we are writing the future of finance.”
Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Federal Minister of IT and Telecommunications, said: “A trusted FinTech ecosystem is built on innovation, regulatory clarity and institutional trust. Pakistan is advancing all three in a disciplined and forward-looking manner. DIF The Pakistan FinTech Summit, held in collaboration with C, reflects a strategic partnership based on common ambition and mutual trust. The decision to host DIFC’s flagship FinTech platform under the Pakistan brand continues.” The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a strong signal of global confidence in Pakistan’s emerging digital financial ecosystem and its reform trajectory. ”
As part of Pakistan’s broader digital national plan, fintech is not a separate sector but a fundamental economic infrastructure. By coordinating sovereign digital infrastructure, responsible regulation, and cross-border capital connectivity, we are positioning Pakistan as a trusted, globally integrated, innovation-driven digital economy ready to engage regional and international partners at scale.
This event enhances Pakistan’s position as a key market in the international FinTech environment. The country has emerged as one of the leading digital financial markets over the past two years, with fintech funding increasing to USD 52.5 million in the first half of 2025, with 450 fintech companies raising USD 391 million in venture capital by late November 2025.
However, this market is limited by structural and infrastructural constraints and the dominance of cash. Fintech companies are therefore playing a key role in the transition to digital finance and commerce by increasing access to digital finance even in rural areas, enabling financial inclusion and convenience through simplified transactions, and increasing awareness among consumers, thereby fostering trust.
The Dubai FinTech Summit contributed to positioning the Emirate of Dubai in the top four financial centers for FinTech by the Global Financial Centers Index, setting a global benchmark for technology adoption, including AI, in finance and other industries.
The international expansion of the Dubai FinTech Summit to be held in Pakistan will serve as a platform for strategic agreement signing, investment announcements, product launches and collaboration across sectors. The Pakistan FinTech Summit aims to shape the future of digital finance in the APAC region by showcasing startups, investor programs, roundtables, and selected sessions with regulators from both countries.
Serving as a unifying platform, the Pakistan FinTech Summit brings together financial institutions, innovators, and policymakers to address common priorities, unearth new opportunities, and drive the long-term development of the sector.
