Islamabad to become Pakistan’s first cashless city - Deadline revealed
Government sets deadline for cashless Islamabad
The federal government has decided to make Islamabad Pakistan’s first fully cashless city by the end of this year. The decision was announced during a meeting on the Cashless Capital project chaired by State Minister for Interior Tallal Chaudhry.
According to the Ministry of Interior, the project is being implemented on the special instructions of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi. Chaudhry said suggestions and cooperation from all relevant stakeholders were necessary to complete the project successfully.
He said Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi had promised the prime minister that Islamabad would become Pakistan’s first cashless city and the world’s first cashless capital. The government is now working to complete the transition within the announced deadlines.
Cash payments to end in government offices
The government has announced that cash payments will no longer be accepted in offices of the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) administration and Capital Development Authority (CDA) after November 30. People will have to use digital payment methods for their transactions with these departments.
“The target is to bring all merchants in Islamabad into the cashless system by Dec 31,” Chaudhry said. He added that digital payment facilities would be made available across the city, from small street vendors to major business centres.
The state minister said the cashless system would help improve financial transparency and make it easier for authorities to monitor transactions and taxes. He also confirmed that around 26,000 merchants in Islamabad had already joined the digital payment system.
Banks and businesses to support digital payments
The government plans to bring businesses of all sizes into the new payment system. This includes small shopkeepers, street vendors, markets and large commercial centres.
“All relevant institutions will work together to make Islamabad a modern digital city,” Chaudhry said. He stressed that cooperation between government departments and other organisations would be important for the project's success.
CDA Chairman Sohail Ashraf, banking sector representatives and senior government officials attended the meeting. Representatives of banks welcomed the Cashless Islamabad initiative and assured the government of their full support.
Shehbaz Sharif pushes nationwide cashless economy
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has repeatedly called for digital payment systems across government institutions and the wider economy. He believes that digital transactions can improve transparency and help reduce financial irregularities.
During a recent meeting, the prime minister directed officials to prepare a “clear roadmap and time-bound targets” for introducing a fully digital payment system across the country. He also described the promotion of a cashless economy as one of the government's top priorities.
“Promoting a cashless economy is one of the government’s top priorities, with its positive results already beginning to emerge,” PM Shehbaz said. Officials informed him that work on digital payments in federal and provincial government institutions was progressing quickly.
The government expects payments in “most institutions” to become fully digital by December 2026. The Islamabad project is part of these wider efforts to shift public and business transactions towards electronic payments.
The cashless Islamabad project could change how people pay for everyday services and business transactions. It may also help improve financial records and make tax collection easier.
However, the transition will depend on reliable digital payment services and easy access for ordinary citizens. Small shopkeepers and people who are not familiar with digital payments will also need proper support to make the system work smoothly.
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