In a major push toward a cashless economy, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) is developing simplified digital payment packages and incentives aimed specifically at small businesses, as part of a broader national strategy to expand digital financial inclusion.
The initiative was announced during a high-level meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, where progress on Pakistan’s digital transformation efforts was reviewed. The meeting also marked the formal establishment of three key bodies — the Digital Payments Innovation and Adoption Committee, the Digital Public Infrastructure Committee, and the Government Payments Committee — to fast-track implementation of Pakistan’s digital agenda.
The SBP’s focus on user-friendly digital solutions for small businesses is intended to remove entry barriers to electronic payments and bring more merchants and entrepreneurs into the formal financial ecosystem.
Ambitious targets were laid out during the meeting. These include increasing the number of mobile app users conducting digital transactions from 95 million to 120 million, doubling QR code-enabled merchants from 0.9 million to 2 million, and raising the volume of digital payments from Rs. 7.5 billion to Rs. 12 billion. Prime Minister Sharif, however, instructed departments to double these targets to ensure an accelerated shift toward digital transactions.
Progress under the government’s “Digital National Pakistan” roadmap was also discussed. Key initiatives under review included the nationwide rollout of the Digital Pakistan ID project, e-stamping services in Islamabad, and the expansion of free Wi-Fi access across public hospitals, schools, government buildings, parks, and mass transit systems.
The Prime Minister emphasized that these services should not be limited to Islamabad alone but extended to the entire federal territory, including Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan.
The meeting highlighted the government’s strong commitment to building a digital-first economy by leveraging technology to improve service delivery, enhance transparency, and promote financial inclusion across all segments of society.
