Prime minister calls for faster shift to a cashless economy, expanded QR payments and full digitisation of overseas remittances
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday directed authorities to accelerate the adoption of QR code-based digital payments across Pakistan, underscoring the government’s commitment to building a cashless economy, enhancing financial inclusion and improving transparency in financial transactions.
Chairing a high-level meeting on digital payments and the promotion of a cashless economy, the prime minister commended his economic team for making significant progress over the past year, saying the expansion of digital payment systems would strengthen documentation, improve governance and support sustainable economic growth.
Shehbaz Sharif praised the sharp increase in the number of merchants accepting QR code-based digital payments, noting that active merchants had grown by 300 percent over the past year. He also described the rise in mobile banking application users from 95 million to 137 million as a major milestone in Pakistan’s digital transformation.
The prime minister directed the relevant authorities to intensify public awareness campaigns to encourage greater use of QR code payment systems among businesses and consumers. He also called on banks and financial institutions to play a more proactive role in accelerating the country’s transition towards a digital and cashless economy.
Emphasising the importance of digital financial flows, Shehbaz instructed authorities to ensure that 100 percent of overseas remittances are received through digital channels to improve efficiency, transparency and financial documentation.
He also appreciated the digitisation of payments under the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), describing the new payment mechanism as more transparent, faster and more convenient for beneficiaries.
Officials briefing the meeting said the number of merchants receiving digital payments had increased by 300 percent to 2.003 million between June 2025 and June 2026.
The meeting was informed that 99 percent of payments made by the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) are now processed digitally, reducing cash-based transactions from 71 percent to just 1 percent.
Officials further said that all payments to approximately 10 million BISP beneficiaries are now being made through digital wallets, while the number of mobile banking application users has climbed to 137 million.
Between July 2025 and June 2026, Pakistan recorded 11.9 billion digital transactions, reflecting the rapid expansion of electronic payment systems across the country.
The briefing also revealed that 92 percent of remittances sent by overseas Pakistanis during the past year were received through digital channels, highlighting growing confidence in formal digital payment mechanisms.
The prime minister was informed that an independent third-party evaluation of the government’s cashless economy initiative is currently underway, with the final report and policy recommendations expected in November 2026.
Officials added that the Pakistan Banks’ Association (PBA) has assigned performance targets to member banks to expand digital payment services, including wider adoption of the RAAST instant payment system.
The meeting was attended by Federal Ministers Ahad Khan Cheema, Muhammad Aurangzeb, Attaullah Tarar, Shaza Fatima Khawaja and Ali Pervaiz Malik, Minister of State for Finance Bilal Azhar Kayani, State Bank of Pakistan Governor Jameel Ahmad, the Chairman of NADRA and senior officials from relevant government institutions.