The Pakistani government is intensifying its push toward a cashless economy, with new directives requiring all new business licenses and retail outlets to provide digital payment options and mandating that all future Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) stipends be disbursed exclusively through digital wallets.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, presiding over a high-level review meeting on Monday, reaffirmed his administration’s resolve to transition the nation toward a digitally inclusive system, calling it a ‘key driver of sustainable national growth’ crucial for enhancing governance and curbing corruption.
‘The world is rapidly moving toward digital economies. Pakistan must keep pace,’ the prime minister stated, directing authorities to intensify awareness campaigns, particularly in rural areas, to reduce reliance on the informal cash-based sector.
The premier praised the progress made under the government’s digital transformation agenda. He highlighted that, for the first time in the country’s history, financial assistance under the BISP was distributed digitally through mobile wallets during Ramadan.
During the meeting, officials detailed new developments, including the integration of electricity and gas bill payments via Raast QR codes. This initiative is already routing billions of rupees through formal, traceable channels.
Under the BISP Digital Wallet initiative, one million wallets have been activated, with a full rollout anticipated by the end of November. The shift to exclusively digital transfers aims to ensure transparency and broaden financial inclusion for beneficiaries.
Progress was also noted in the capital, where all payments for government services have been linked with the Raast system. To further expand access to financial services, licenses for digital banks are now being issued.
According to government data, 68% of Pakistan’s population is now financially included through formal or digital systems, a figure that is projected to rise substantially in 2026. Sharif instructed officials to scale up inclusion programs nationwide, emphasizing the role of technology in empowering citizens.
The prime minister lauded the “satisfactory” progress and commended the coordinated efforts of the Finance Ministry, IT Ministry, Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), and NADRA, instructing them to meet all targets within the set timelines.
The meeting was attended by federal ministers Ahsan Iqbal, Muhammad Aurangzeb, Attaullah Tarar, Shaza Fatima Khawaja, and Bilal Azhar Kayani, along with SBP Governor Jameel Ahmed, NADRA Chairman Lt Gen Muhammad Munir Afzal, and FBR Chairman Rashid Mahmood Langrial.
Sharif reiterated that Pakistan’s move toward a cashless economy represents a major step toward transparency, accountability, and modernization.