Walee Financial Services announced that its flagship platform, Hakeem, has been awarded the Sustainable and Inclusive Payments Excellence Award at the APAC Payments Excellence Awards 2025 hosted by Emerging Payments Association Asia in Hong Kong. The award recognizes organizations across the Asia-Pacific region that demonstrate excellence in promoting inclusion, sustainability, and innovation within the digital finance ecosystem.
Hakeem was acknowledged alongside international financial institutions including Mastercard, RCBC, and PayNet, reflecting its rising prominence in global fintech circles. Other categories at the awards featured well-known names such as Standard Chartered, HSBC, Thunes, and Commonwealth Bank, underlining the scale and credibility of the recognition. This achievement follows Hakeem’s previous international accolade as Emerging FinTech of the Year at the Singapore FinTech Festival 2024, presented by the Monetary Authority of Singapore, further establishing its reputation in ethical and inclusive digital finance.
Hakeem is Pakistan’s first fully Shariah-certified Islamic digital nano-finance platform, designed to extend financial services to communities traditionally underserved by conventional banking. Using a fully digital model, users can complete e-KYC, undergo AI-driven credit scoring, and access nano-financing quickly without collateral or paperwork. The platform prioritizes accessibility across both rural and urban segments, with a special focus on women and low-income earners who often face barriers in conventional financial systems.
Khushba Hayat, Partner, Business Development at Walee Financial Services, highlighted that Hakeem is built to offer not only access to finance but also dignity and opportunity. She stated that every transaction represents a human story, whether it is a woman restarting her business, a labourer bridging a financial gap, or a teacher covering medical expenses. This approach demonstrates the platform’s commitment to ethical finance that is both inclusive and scalable.
CEO Noshad Minhas emphasized that Hakeem was conceived to address the gap in financial services that often favors a select group. With advanced technology and a fully digital interface, Hakeem simplifies access to finance, ensuring that users feel respected and empowered while conducting transactions from their homes. This model provides an alternative to traditional banking environments that may feel intimidating or exclusionary for new users.
Following full Shariah certification, Hakeem is preparing to expand its offerings to include MSME financing, women-focused financial products, remittance-linked services, and Takaful distribution. These initiatives are designed to support economic empowerment, strengthen small enterprises, and extend faith-aligned financial inclusion across Pakistan. Industry observers note that Hakeem’s recognition at APAC Payments Awards 2025 underscores Pakistan’s growing presence in ethical fintech solutions and highlights the country’s potential in advancing inclusive digital finance for underserved populations.
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