Mobilink Bank has entered into a strategic partnership with HBL Zarai Services Limited to strengthen agricultural financing access for underserved farming communities across Pakistan under the government-backed Zarkhez-e Asaan Digital Zarai Qarza Scheme. The collaboration is designed to enhance structured, in-kind agricultural credit delivery by linking financial services directly with agricultural inputs, advisory support, and mechanisation services. The agreement reflects a continued push within Pakistan’s financial sector to improve rural access to credit through digital and service-linked lending models that ensure greater transparency and efficiency in the use of agricultural financing.
Under the partnership framework, Mobilink Bank will focus on expanding access to structured financing solutions for farmers by enabling credit that is not disbursed in cash but instead tied to verified agricultural inputs and services. This approach aims to ensure that borrowed funds are utilised for productive farming activities such as improved seed usage, fertiliser application, crop protection, and modern farming techniques. HBL Zarai Services, operating as an Agricultural Services Provider under the scheme, will facilitate access to high-quality inputs, agronomic advisory services, mechanisation on a pay-per-use basis, and structured crop offtake solutions. The integrated model is intended to support better farm-level productivity and reduce inefficiencies in traditional lending mechanisms.
A key feature of the collaboration is the implementation of a closed-loop agricultural financing system that connects credit issuance with actual farm inputs and market access. Through this system, farmers are expected to receive improved oversight of their financing usage while financial institutions gain better visibility into repayment cycles and agricultural outcomes. The initiative also places strong emphasis on digital channels to streamline disbursement processes and improve transaction efficiency, reducing the administrative burden on both lenders and borrowers. Officials from both institutions highlighted that this structure is aligned with broader national goals of strengthening food security, promoting financial inclusion, and improving the resilience of rural livelihoods in the country’s agricultural economy.
HBL Zarai Services, which operates as a specialised agricultural extension and services platform backed by HBL’s ecosystem and development partners, continues to expand its role in transforming Pakistan’s rural agricultural value chain. By integrating financing with services such as mechanisation access, advisory support, and structured market linkages, the organisation aims to improve overall productivity and profitability for smallholder farmers. The latest partnership with Mobilink Bank further strengthens this ecosystem by scaling access to in-kind financing across key agricultural regions, supporting the long-term objective of creating a more sustainable and technology-driven agricultural financing environment in Pakistan.
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