Digitalizing SMEs in Pakistan Could Create Five Times More Jobs, Says Jazz CEO at MWC 2025
ISLAMABAD: “Digital transformation is no longer a luxury; it’s a necessity for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to thrive in today’s economy,” said Aamir Ibrahim, CEO of Jazz, Chairman of Mobilink Microfinance Bank, and Group Executive Committee Member at VEON. Delivering a keynote titled “Are Telecom Giants Letting the SMEs Down?” at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2025, Ibrahim highlighted the transformative potential of digitalization for Pakistan’s SME sector, which could lead to a fivefold increase in job creation.
Jazz believes in an integrated ecosystem to address these challenges by combining digital financial services, cloud infrastructure, and advanced data analytics. Aamir explained that this approach is designed to double SME revenue and profitability.jazzcash saving plan
At the core of Jazz’s SME strategy is its financial services ecosystem led by JazzCash and Mobilink Microfinance Bank (MMBL). JazzCash processed transactions equivalent to 9% of Pakistan’s GDP in 2024 and has disbursed over $1 billion through 100 million digital loans for productive purposes since its inception. With an average loan size of $15, JazzCash has successfully reached underserved segments of the population that traditional banking systems have overlooked.
Mobilink Microfinance Bank (MMBL) complements this ecosystem as Pakistan’s leading digital microfinance institution. In 2024 alone, it disbursed $92.5 million in SME loans while building a deposit base of $535.7 million. VEON’s recent $15 million investment in MMBL underscores its commitment to fostering financial inclusion.
MMBL has been particularly focused on empowering women entrepreneurs. Through its initiatives, nearly 42,000 women entrepreneurs have been supported, and 25% of its total loan portfolio is dedicated to women-focused initiatives.
Beyond financial services, Jazz is enabling SME digitalization through its enterprise division Jazz Business, which serves approximately 1,000 SME customers with over 30 products. As Pakistan’s leading cloud service, Garaj operates 32 data centers nationwide, helping businesses achieve efficiency improvements.
Real-time anonymized telecom data also plays a critical role in empowering SMEs. By leveraging advanced data insights through Jazz’s analytics arm, Quantica, SMEs can make smarter financial decisions that improve both short-term profitability and long-term sustainability. Quantica utilizes data from Jazz’s 72 million telco subscribers and Pakistan’s largest data lake to provide actionable insights for performance optimization.
Aamir also emphasized Jazz’s commitment to women-led businesses and underserved communities. Through initiatives such as insurtech expansion and cross-border payment solutions like its partnership with UAE-based du Pay powered by Western Union, Jazz aims to foster greater financial inclusion. The company is also working to increase its female customer base for JazzCash wallets from 30% to 50% in the coming years. The fintech platform facilitates 140,000 daily digital loans, with 25% directly benefiting women. Moreover, 150,000 women freelancers and women-led businesses rely on JazzCash for their financial needs. “Our goal is to double this number by 2027.”
“As long as we are committed to broadband, banking and business tools, we will not let the SMEs down,” he concluded.
