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PM orders roadmap for 100% digital paymentsPakistan
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed officials to draw up a clear roadmap with timelines and targets for a fully digital payments system, with cheque payments under government assignment accounts ending on 15 November.
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ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Friday directed the relevant authorities to present a clear roadmap, with specific timelines and targets, for establishing a 100 percent digital payments system across the country. Chairing a high-level meeting on the promotion of a cashless economy in Islamabad, the prime minister said promoting a cashless economy was among the government’s top priorities and that positive results had already started to emerge.
The prime minister appreciated the efforts of the Ministry of Finance and all relevant state institutions for promoting a cashless economy. He directed the authorities to immediately address the problems faced by consumers in the digital payment system and stressed the need to ensure internet connectivity across the country and to facilitate public access to technology.
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He instructed the authorities to continue the government-backed initiative aimed at promoting digital payments between consumers and merchants through the Raast QR Code system. He observed that the Raast QR Code-based payment system was helping the government achieve its vision of a cashless economy. He also directed an effective media campaign to encourage electricity and gas consumers to make payments through the QR codes printed on their utility bills.
The meeting was informed that work on digitising payments across all federal and provincial government institutions was progressing rapidly, with payments in most institutions expected to be fully digitised by December 2026. The participants were also informed that 100 percent of payments under the Benazir Income Support Programme were being made through digital wallets.
The meeting was informed that payments through cheques under Asaan Assignment Accounts would be discontinued from 15 November 2026. From 16 November, all payments under these accounts across the country would be made through the Raast digital payment system, and the relevant drawing and disbursing officers had already been trained for the transition.
Work was also under way to introduce an advanced system for digital payments in areas without internet connectivity, while infrastructure development to ensure internet access throughout the country was progressing rapidly. The prime minister directed all ministries and government institutions to ensure the complete implementation of the government’s cashless economy plan.
Federal Ministers Muhammad Aurangzeb, Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Attaullah Tarar, Junaid Anwar Chaudhry, Ali Pervaiz Malik and Sardar Awais Leghari, Prime Minister’s Adviser Rana Sanaullah, Minister of State for Finance Bilal Azhar Kayani, State Bank Governor Jameel Ahmad, provincial chief secretaries and senior officials of relevant institutions attended the meeting.
In a separate meeting the same day, the prime minister approved a plan to modernise the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan to boost exports and improve access for Pakistani products in global markets. He directed that the reforms be completed and fully operationalised by the middle of next year, with a phased 12-month implementation roadmap covering approval, design, execution and independent assessment.
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