PM orders time-bound plan for nationwide digital payments system

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed authorities to prepare a clear, time-bound roadmap for establishing a fully digital payments system across Pakistan, linking the push for a cashless economy with wider internet access and public access to technology.

The directive was issued during a high-level meeting in Islamabad on Friday on promoting digital payments. The Prime Minister’s Office said the prime minister asked relevant departments to set measurable targets and to address problems experienced by users of digital-payment services without delay.

He said the expansion of a cashless economy requires reliable internet coverage throughout the country, along with easier access to technology for the public. The meeting was told that work on digitising payments in federal and provincial government institutions was progressing and that payments in most institutions were expected to be fully digitised by December 2026.

The prime minister also directed the continuation of the Raast QR-code initiative for payments between consumers and merchants. He asked officials to run an effective public-awareness campaign encouraging electricity and gas consumers to use QR codes printed on utility bills for payments.

According to the briefing, all payments under the Benazir Income Support Programme are already being made through digital wallets. Officials said a modern digital-payment mechanism was also being developed for areas with limited or no internet connectivity, while infrastructure work to extend internet access was continuing.

A further operational change is scheduled for November 15, when cheque-based payments through Asaan Assignment Account are to be discontinued and replaced by the Raast digital system nationwide. The meeting was told that drawing and disbursing officers had already received training for the transition.

The plan places digital payments alongside broader government efforts on tax administration, financial-system reforms and the use of technology in public services. Its effectiveness will depend on dependable connectivity, practical support for users and consistent implementation by federal and provincial institutions.