ABHI Microfinance Bank has signed a memorandum of understanding with DigiKhata in Islamabad to unlock SME Financing for merchants using the digital ledger platform. The partnership links DigiKhata’s merchant ecosystem with ABHI’s regulated lending capabilities to provide working capital and structured credit tailored to digitally active small businesses.
DigiKhata’s platform enables small retailers and traders to record sales, credit and inventory digitally, creating transaction trails that support more informed credit assessment. By integrating these records into ABHI’s evaluation processes, eligible merchants on DigiKhata can access financing based on documented business activity rather than informal proxies.
Access to timely working capital remains a major constraint for many Pakistani SMEs. Embedding SME Financing within platforms already used by merchants helps bridge the divide between informal trade and formal banking, improving cash flow stability, inventory management and the ability to expand operations with greater financial confidence.
The MoU was signed by Mariam Pervaiz, Chief Communications Officer at ABHI Microfinance Bank, and Adnan Aslam, Chief Executive Officer at DigiKhata. Kabeer Naqvi, Entrepreneur in Residence at ABHI Financials, and representatives from both organisations also attended the ceremony. Mariam Pervaiz said the collaboration underscores ABHI’s focus on empowering small businesses through technology driven finance, while Adnan Aslam noted that linking digital record keeping with access to capital creates new growth pathways for merchants.
Industry observers view the agreement as part of a broader shift in Pakistan’s financial landscape where fintech platforms and banks collaborate to extend documented credit to underserved enterprises, promote financial inclusion and support entrepreneurship and economic resilience.
