By The South Asia Times

ISLAMABAD - US technology company Cisco has completed a multimillion-dollar project to modernise the core banking network and data centre infrastructure of Pakistan's central bank, in a development highlighting growing technology and commercial cooperation between Islamabad and Washington.

US Chargé d’Affaires Natalie Baker joined State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Governor Jameel Ahmad and senior Cisco executives at the central bank's head office in Karachi on Friday to mark the completion of the project.

The deployment includes a new core banking network and a Software-Defined Data Center (SDDC), designed to provide a more secure, flexible and resilient technological foundation for the State Bank's operations.

According to the US Embassy, the project was awarded to Cisco, a leading American technology company, and represents a major investment in modernising Pakistan's critical financial infrastructure.

The upgraded architecture is intended to strengthen the security and reliability of the central bank's systems, support uninterrupted operations and help ensure the delivery of dependable digital banking services across the country.

Speaking at the ceremony, Baker described the central bank's infrastructure as a national asset essential to economic stability and public confidence.

She said the State Bank's decision to work with an American technology company reflected its commitment to quality, security and long-term reliability.

Baker also highlighted the longstanding commercial relationship between the United States and Pakistan, saying Washington remained committed to connecting Pakistani institutions with American technological innovation.

SBP Governor Jameel Ahmad and Cisco Pakistan Country General Manager Kashif Ul-Haque praised the joint engineering effort behind the project.

They highlighted the successful implementation and migration of the complex systems while maintaining uninterrupted central banking operations.

The project comes as Pakistan seeks to modernise its financial infrastructure and expand secure digital services amid the growing importance of technology in banking and financial transactions.

The US Embassy said the initiative reflected Washington's continued support for private-sector cooperation, secure digital infrastructure and stronger trade and investment relations between the two countries.

The deployment also highlights the role of American technology companies in Pakistan's efforts to upgrade critical economic infrastructure.