KARACHI: Meezan Bank, Pakistan's first Islamic bank and one of the country's largest financial institutions, has successfully secured the Meezan Bank PCI DSS certification under version 4.0.1, following a comprehensive assessment carried out by Risk Associates, a globally recognised PCI Qualified Security Assessor (QSA). The announcement, made in Karachi on July 27, 2026, positions the Bank among a select group of Pakistani financial institutions meeting the latest global payment security benchmark.

What Meezan Bank PCI DSS Certification Means for Customers

The Meezan Bank’s PCI DSS certification is indicative of the bank’s dedication towards the protection of cardholder information and maintenance of security controls within the ever-growing technological and payment landscape. Furthermore, the Meezan Bank’s PCI DSS certification indicates that the Bank is continuously dedicated towards incorporating security standards that are accepted globally. As more Pakistani banks shift transactions online, certifications of this nature offer customers tangible assurance that their card and payment data receive rigorous protection.

PCI DSS Certificate of Compliance was presented formally by Dr Aftab Rizvi, the Chairman of Risk Associates Group, along with Mr Navaid Naqvi, who is CEO and Country Head of Risk Associates Pakistan. This event also witnessed the presence of Mr Fahd Azam, CISO of Meezan Bank. Furthermore, the importance of the event was highlighted through the participation of Mr Kashif Ali, Head of Business Development at Risk Associates, and Mr Syed Tariq Hassan, Chief Risk Officer at Meezan Bank.

Commenting on the Meezan Bank PCI DSS certification, Dr Aftab Rizvi said the achievement reflects the Bank's proactive approach to payment security and regulatory compliance. He highlighted that since financial institutions of Pakistan are digitizing at a fast pace, such accomplishments become a standard of how security and customer confidence should be raised hand-in-hand, emphasizing that Risk Associates is proud of supporting Meezan Bank in this process.

According to Mr. Fahd Azam, the Chief Information Security Officer at Meezan Bank, achieving the PCI DSS v4.0.1 Certification has further solidified Meezan Bank’s commitment to ensuring the highest level of payment and data security for its clients. He thanked the Risk Associates team for its professional conduct and technical skillfulness during the assessment process, emphasizing that Meezan Bank is committed to improving its security stance.

Navaid Naqvi, CEO and Country Head of Risk Associates Pakistan, further stated that the Meezan Bank PCI DSS Certification is a clear indication of its high level of commitment towards Cyber Security and Governance as well as Data Security of its customers. He said that the Bank has shown great dedication in conforming to the international standards of security practices.

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As organisations across Pakistan continue navigating an evolving cyber threat landscape, initiatives such as the Meezan Bank PCI DSS certification play a critical role in protecting sensitive payment data and reinforcing the overall security posture of the country's financial sector. Industry observers say certifications of this scale, when adopted more broadly, could help build greater consumer confidence in digital banking across Pakistan as adoption continues to accelerate.