Easypaisa Welcomes Norwegian Minister

Tue Nov 23, 2010 |  By Absar Taqvi 

When Telenor Pakistan and Tameer Bank first launched Easypaisa in 2009, a ZUMBEEL Team paid a survey to an Easypaisa retail outlet to write a report on the experience subsequently. The Norwegian Minister for Environment and International Development Erik Solheim seemed to follow the same course, with an exception of writing a report I assume, when he visited an Easypaisa outlet at a local market in Islamabad today.    

The press release issued by Telenor Pakistan points out that the Minister is in Pakistan to see the flood relief activities.  What the press release does not point out is the Minister’s reaction to Norway’s native company’s growth in Pakistan and the great easy money service launched by it. However it does quote Chief Strategy Officer & VP Corporate Affairs Telenor Pakistan Aamir Ibrahim, “Branchless banking solutions like easypaisa can not only address the lack of financial inclusion in Pakistan but can also potentially help generate and disburse funds to the disaster affected people."


(R to L): Ambassador of Norway Robert Kvile, Norwegian Minister for Environment and International Development Erik Solheim, Chief Strategy Officer & VP Corporate Affairs Telenor Pakistan Aamir Ibrahim, and Director Corporate Communications & Responsibility Telenor Pakistan Anjum Rahman

Amid all this the golden lining was the fact that Easypaisa was used to collect flood relief funds through its donation service.