Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has called for the swift rollout of a nationwide digital transaction system, emphasizing its critical role in boosting transparency and modernizing Pakistan’s economy.
Chairing a high-level meeting on Thursday at the Prime Minister’s Office focused on the development of a cashless economy, Shehbaz underscored the importance of encouraging digital payments across all levels — from individual citizens to businesses — while also raising public awareness about the benefits of digital platforms.
“A digital system is essential to improve transparency and must be implemented nationwide,” the premier stressed.
He instructed three key committees — the Digital Payments Innovation and Adoption Committee, the Digital Public Infrastructure Committee, and the Government Payments Committee — to engage closely with relevant stakeholders and present concrete, actionable recommendations.
Officials informed the meeting that the State Bank of Pakistan is preparing a streamlined strategy to promote digital payments, onboard more merchants, and expand mobile app usage.
Targets set under the plan include:
- Increasing mobile app users from 95 million to 120 million
- Doubling QR code-enabled merchants from 0.9 million to 2 million
- Raising the total volume of digital payments from Rs7.5 billion to Rs12 billion
However, the prime minister directed that these targets be doubled to accelerate progress.
He was also briefed on the broader “Digital National Pakistan” initiative, under which the Islamabad City mobile app has already been downloaded 1.3 million times and has facilitated Rs15.5 billion in collections through the ICT Excise and Taxation Department.
Further developments include the upcoming launch of the Digital Pakistan ID project and e-stamping services in Islamabad. Additionally, plans are in motion to provide free Wi-Fi across the capital in hospitals, schools, offices, parks, and metro stations.
PM Shehbaz also ordered that these digital services be expanded to federal territories, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan.
The meeting was attended by IT and Telecom Minister Shaza Fatima, Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik, Advisor Dr. Tauqir Shah, Minister of State for Finance and Railways Bilal Azhar Kayani, and other senior officials.
