Karachi — Payoneer (NASDAQ: PAYO), the global financial technology company powering business growth across borders, hosted the 5th edition of its XBorder Excellence Awards. Supported by JazzCash and Faysal Bank as award sponsors, the event brought together more than 100 attendees to celebrate the achievements of top-performing exporters, digital entrepreneurs, creators, and small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) contributing to Pakistan’s expanding global economy.
Participants represented the breadth of Pakistan’s export ecosystem, from software development and gaming studios to eCommerce and direct-to-consumer (D2C) brands, business-to-business (B2B) service-export companies, digital marketing agencies, and the freelance community.
The XBorder Excellence Awards recognized outstanding achievers across key categories that represent Pakistan’s growing strength in digital exports. The winners included Guava Slice Games, awarded for excellence in the gaming export category; KSM Media Hut, recognized for outstanding digital marketing services; LAAM, honored for leadership in D2C innovation; and Wanological Solutions, awarded for achievements in software and technology services. Zaid Tariq and Shazia Shah were celebrated as Freelancers of the Year. EyeSmarty was awarded as the eCommerce Seller of the Year for its exceptional performance. Hopetex was recognized as the Prime CSP Partner.
The event shed light on emerging trends shaping Pakistan’s export landscape, with speakers highlighting that checkout is increasingly becoming a growth driver tied to conversion and buyer trust, that export-ready SMBs are thinking global from day one with entity setup and cross-border payment readiness now essential for scale, and that sustainable growth hinges on stronger alignment between fintechs, banks, and businesses across payments, compliance, and partnerships.
Leading experts in Pakistan’s cross-border eCommerce and payments space shared dynamic insights with attendees, with the agenda featuring:
• “Reinventing Checkout for Pakistan,” a dynamic panel discussion featuring Asfandyar Farrukh (Chainstore Association of Pakistan), M. Salik Gadit (J.), and Arsal Ali (Laam), who shared practical insights on the evolving commerce landscape and opportunities for local businesses.
• A keynote by M. Harris Saeed Khan of JazzCash on how digital payments are enabling a new generation of entrepreneurs.
• A keynote by Ahmed Rauf Essa of Telemart on emerging opportunities for SMEs in the global marketplace.
The evening concluded with networking, insightful discussions, and a shared commitment to accelerating Pakistan’s role in global commerce and services. With each edition of the XBorder Excellence Awards, Payoneer continues to highlight, recognize, and support the innovators shaping the country’s digital future.
Sohail Majeed is a Special Correspondent at The Diplomatic Insight. He has twelve plus years of experience in journalism & reporting. He covers International Affairs, Diplomacy, UN, Sports, Climate Change, Economy, Technology, and Health.
