Pakistan’s credit card numbers rose sharply in the first quarter of fiscal year 2025-26. According to Gallup Pakistan’s Digital Analytics Dashboard using State Bank of Pakistan data, active credit cards grew from 2.2 million at the end of FY25 to 3.13 million between July and September 2025. This is a 44% year-on-year increase and the largest quarterly rise ever recorded.
The three-month jump was bigger than the total growth of the previous six years, when the number of cards only moved from 1.6 million to 2.2 million. Credit card use also rose fast. The value of ATM transactions made with credit cards increased almost six times in the same period.
Banks and fintech firms did not announce any big public campaigns. Experts think possible reasons include quite large-scale card issuance, changes in how some products are classified, or new credit-based payment options. Regulators have not yet explained the sudden rise.
Debit cards still dominate. They make up nearly 90% of Pakistan’s 61.3 million payment cards. Social welfare and prepaid cards also grew quickly.
| Card Type | Total Circulation | Year-on-Year Growth |
| Debit Cards | 57.20 million | +11.7% |
| Social Welfare Cards | 7.72 million | +90.1% |
| Credit Cards | 3.13 million | +44.0% |
| Pre-Paid Cards | 0.20 million | +121.2% |
Credit cards remain only about 4% of all payment cards. The fast growth shows a clear shift toward digital payments, yet the exact causes of the quarterly surge are still unclear.