{"id":3984,"date":"2026-11-06T14:36:33","date_gmt":"2026-11-06T14:36:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/diplomag.com.pk\/?p=3984"},"modified":"2026-11-06T14:36:33","modified_gmt":"2026-11-06T14:36:33","slug":"pm-seeks-roadmap-for-nationwide-digital-payments-stresses-universal-internet-access","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/diplomag.com.pk\/index.php\/2026\/11\/06\/pm-seeks-roadmap-for-nationwide-digital-payments-stresses-universal-internet-access\/","title":{"rendered":"PM seeks roadmap for nationwide digital payments, stresses universal internet access"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"story__content  flow-root    pt-1 mt-1 text-4 sm:text-4.5  overflow-visible\" dir=\"auto\">\n<p><strong>ISLAMABAD<\/strong>: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday directed authorities to prepare a \u201cclear roadmap and time-bound targets\u201d for establishing a 100 per cent digital payments system in the country.<\/p>\n<p>The directives came during a high-level meeting he chaired in Islamabad regarding the promotion of a cashless economy in the country, according to a statement by the Prime Minister\u2019s Office (PMO).<\/p>\n<p>The premier directed the relevant officials to present a \u201cclear roadmap and time-bound targets for establishing a 100pc digital payments system in the country\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe issues faced by users in the digital payments system should be resolved immediately,\u201d PM Shehbaz said.<\/p>\n<p>He further stressed, \u201cTo promote a cashless economy, the provision of internet across the country and easy access to technology for the public must be ensured.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPromoting a cashless economy is one of the government\u2019s top priorities, with its positive results already beginning to emerge,\u201d PM Shehbaz was quoted as saying.<\/p>\n<p>He also commended the \u201congoing successful efforts by the Ministry of Finance and all relevant state institutions\u201d to promote a cashless economy.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe payment system through Raast QR codes is proving instrumental in achieving the government\u2019s vision of a cashless economy,\u201d the prime minister said, directing that the scheme to promote digital payments between consumers and merchants through Raast QR codes be continued under government patronage.<\/p>\n<p>The prime minister directed the launch of an effective media campaign to encourage electricity and gas consumers to make payments through QR codes printed on utility bills, and instructed all ministries and government institutions to ensure full implementation of the cashless economy plan.<\/p>\n<p>During the meeting, a briefing was given on the ongoing measures to promote a cashless economy, the PMO statement said.<\/p>\n<p>According to the briefing, work on the digitisation of payments in all federal and provincial government institutions was progressing rapidly, and payments in \u201cmost institutions\u201d would be fully digitised by December 2026, the PMO said.<\/p>\n<p>It added that 100pc of the payments under the Benazir Income Support Programme were being made through digital wallets. \u201cWork is underway to introduce a modern system for digital payments in areas without internet access,\u201d the meeting was informed.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEfforts to establish infrastructure for internet provision across the country are progressing rapidly,\u201d the PMO statement said.<\/p>\n<p>It added that cheque-based payments through Asaan Assignment Account will be discontinued from Nov 15, and instead will be made through the Raast digital system across the country. Drawing and disbursing officers have already been trained in this regard, it noted.<\/p>\n<p>The federal government has maintained that it is taking vigorous steps to stren\u00adgthen the country\u2019s financial system through fundamental reforms in the tax system, increasing the efficiency of the Federal Board of Revenue, promoting a cashless economy and using modern technology.`<\/p>\n<p>The prime minister has repeatedly emphasised the need to implement digital transaction systems across the country, insisting that it was vital to bring transparency to the economy.<\/p>\n<p>In a bid to promote a cashless economy, PM Shehbaz formed a high-level committee in June last year. This July, he also directed that remittances from abroad be fully digitised as part of the drive.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday directed authorities to prepare a \u201cclear roadmap and time-bound targets\u201d for establishing a 100 per cent digital payments system in the country. The directives came during a high-level meeting he chaired in Islamabad regarding the promotion of a cashless economy in the country, according to a statement by [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":3977,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3984","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-national"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>PM seeks roadmap for nationwide digital payments, stresses universal internet access - Diplomag<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/diplomag.com.pk\/index.php\/2026\/11\/06\/pm-seeks-roadmap-for-nationwide-digital-payments-stresses-universal-internet-access\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"PM seeks roadmap for nationwide digital payments, stresses universal internet access - Diplomag\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday directed authorities to prepare a \u201cclear roadmap and time-bound targets\u201d for establishing a 100 per cent digital payments system in the country. 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