PM pushes for cashless, digital economy

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday said the government was prioritising efforts to digitise the economy and shift all transactions to a cashless system.

He was chairing a review meeting on the cashless and digital economy in the federal capital.

The prime minister expressed satisfaction with the progress toward a cashless economy and directed chief secretaries to fully support the federal government in expanding the Raast system to district governments.

The meeting was briefed on the progress of measures to promote a cashless economy.

The participants of the meeting were informed that digital IDs will be created under the Pakistan Digital Public Infrastructure, integrating citizens' national identity cards, biometrics, and mobile numbers to enable digital payments.

They were told that provincial governments had made significant progress in linking public-to-government and government-to-public payments with the Raast system.

On digital infrastructure, the Capital Development Authority has granted right-of-way for fiber connectivity, while talks are ongoing with Pakistan Railways and the National Highway Authority.

Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Muhammad Aurangzeb, Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Khan Cheema, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar, Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Federal Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik, Adviser to the Prime Minister Dr Tauqir Shah, Minister of State for Finance and Railways Bilal Azhar Kayani and relevant senior government officials attended the meeting.