Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has ordered the doubling of all major digital transaction targets to fast-track Pakistan’s shift toward a cashless economy. Chairing a high-level meeting in Islamabad on Thursday, he emphasized that mobile-based payments, QR code adoption, and digital transaction volumes must expand significantly to match the nation’s economic transformation goals.
Boosting Digital Access and Payments
Authorities now aim to raise mobile payment users from 95 million to 120 million. Similarly, QR code-enabled merchants will increase from 0.9 million to 2 million. The total value of digital transactions is also expected to grow from Rs7.5 billion ($26.9 million) to Rs12 billion ($43 million). Sharif declared these figures too modest and directed stakeholders to double every target.
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Transparency Through Digitization
Sharif stressed the importance of a digital payment system to ensure transparency and ease in citizen-to-business transactions. He highlighted that expanding digital tools was vital for improving governance and accountability.
Committees to Oversee Transition
Three key bodies are managing the digital push:
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The Digital Payments Innovation and Adoption Committee
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The Digital Public Infrastructure Committee
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The Government Payments Committee
Sharif instructed them to present realistic and collaborative proposals to speed up progress.
Support for Small Businesses and Wider Connectivity
The State Bank of Pakistan is working on user-friendly systems and incentives for small traders to join digital platforms. The government also aims to expand digital mobile applications and increase access to public digital infrastructure.
Upcoming Launches and Expansion
Officials briefed the prime minister on several new initiatives, including:
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E-stamping services
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Public Wi-Fi across hospitals, schools, parks, government offices, and metro stations in Islamabad
Sharif ordered the immediate rollout of these services across federal areas, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan, stressing that no region should be left behind in the digital transition.
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