Islamabad, November 10, 2025 – Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday directed authorities to accelerate efforts to transform Pakistan into a fully cashless and digital economy, emphasizing that this shift is crucial for the country’s sustainable economic growth and transparent governance.
While chairing a high-level meeting to review progress on cashless initiatives, the Prime Minister instructed officials to intensify public awareness campaigns, especially in rural areas, to phase out the traditional cash-based system and promote digital transactions nationwide.
“The entire world is rapidly transitioning toward digital finance, and Pakistan must not lag behind,” PM Shehbaz asserted, highlighting that his government’s early focus on digital transformation has started producing encouraging results.
He cited the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), where for the first time, financial aid during Ramazan was disbursed via digital wallets, marking a major milestone toward financial inclusion.
PM Shehbaz praised the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of IT, FBR, and the State Bank of Pakistan for their effective coordination in implementing the cashless roadmap.
The meeting was informed that utility bill payments via RAAST QR codes have enabled billions in digital transactions, while more than 10 million BISP digital wallets will be fully operational by month-end.
Additionally, government service apps in Islamabad are now being linked with RAAST, and digital payment systems using QR codes have been integrated for new business licenses and retail payments.
The Prime Minister noted that digital banking licenses are being issued nationwide, with financial inclusion reaching 68% of the population so far. He directed stakeholders to further expand access and meet upcoming targets efficiently.