PM sets 100% digital remittance goal
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday hailed major progress in the country's drive towards a cashless economy, highlighting a sharp increase in digital transactions and directing that all overseas remittances should be routed through digital channels to strengthen transparency, financial inclusion and long-term economic growth.
Chairing a meeting on promoting digital payments, the prime minister was informed that 92% of remittances from overseas Pakistanis were received through digital channels during the past year. Shehbaz directed the relevant authorities to ensure that 100% of remittances are received digitally, while urging banks and financial institutions to play a more proactive role in accelerating the country's transition towards a cashless economy.
Officials told the meeting that between July 2025 and June 2026, Pakistan recorded 11.9 billion digital transactions, reflecting the growing adoption of electronic payment systems across the country. An independent third-party validation of the cashless economy initiative is also under way, with its final report and recommendations expected in November 2026.
He praised his economic team for achieving significant milestones over the past year, particularly the expansion of QR code-based digital payments. He noted that the number of active merchants accepting QR code payments had increased by 300% within a year, while mobile banking application users had risen from 95 million to 137 million.
During the briefing, officials said the number of merchants receiving digital payments had climbed by 300% between June 2025 and June 2026 to reach 2.003 million. They also reported that 99% of payments made by NADRA had been digitised, reducing cash-based payments from 71% to just 1%.
The meeting was further informed that all payments to 10 million beneficiaries of the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) are now being made through digital wallets. The prime minister welcomed the initiative, saying it had made the payment system more transparent, faster and more convenient for beneficiaries.