ISLAMABAD:
The federal government has ordered the placement of QR codes on all government-issued bills nationwide in a major push to promote digital payments and reduce reliance on cash transactions.
The directive was issued on the instructions of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif during a high-level review meeting in Islamabad focused on accelerating digital transactions and financial inclusion.
Under the new policy, all federal and provincial public institutions have been directed to print QR codes on their bills within a specified timeframe, enabling citizens to make payments digitally through mobile banking applications and other electronic platforms. Officials say the move is designed to simplify payment processes and fast-track Pakistan’s transition toward a cashless economy.
The initiative forms part of a broader strategy to strengthen financial digitisation and expand the formal banking net across the country.
During the meeting, the prime minister commended the economic team and the State Bank of Pakistan for expanding digital transactions through the Raast instant payment system. Raast has already been utilised for disbursing salaries, pensions and vendor payments across multiple government departments.
Officials informed the meeting that between July 2025 and January 2026, federal and provincial governments executed direct digital payments amounting to Rs1.6 trillion, reflecting a significant rise in adoption of electronic channels.
The prime minister also acknowledged the role of the Ministry of Finance in facilitating the expansion of digital payments infrastructure, terming the QR code initiative a “key step” in deepening transparency, efficiency and financial inclusion in Pakistan’s public sector.
