Islamabad to become Pakistan's first cashless city by Dec 31

Cash payments to end in ICT and CDA departments after November 30 as 26,000 merchants join digital payments system

Islamabad will become Pakistan's first fully cashless city by December 31, with cash payments set to be discontinued in all departments of the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) and the Capital Development Authority (CDA) after November 30.

The decision was announced on Friday during a meeting on the "Cashless Islamabad" initiative, chaired by Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry.

Speaking at the meeting, Chaudhry said the government aimed to bring all merchants in Islamabad into the digital payments system by December 31.

"The target is to bring all merchants in Islamabad into the cashless system by December 31," he said, adding that 26,000 merchants in the capital had already been connected to the digital payments system.

He said digital payment facilities would be introduced at every level, from street vendors to large business centres, while the cashless system would improve financial transparency, tax monitoring and transactions.

"The cashless system will bring improvements in financial transparency, tax monitoring and the transaction system," the minister said.

اسلام آباد کو ملک کا پہلا مکمل کیش لیس شہر بنانے کا فیصلہ، 31 دسمبر ڈیڈ لائن مقرر،
وزیر مملکت برائے داخلہ طلال چوہدری کی زیر صدارت کیش لیس اسلام آباد کے حوالے سے اہم اجلاس، pic.twitter.com/QPxAieLv1Z

— Ministry of Interior GoP (@MOIofficialGoP) November 13, 2026

Chaudhry stressed that consultation with all stakeholders was important for the project's success, adding that the initiative was being implemented rapidly on the special directives of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi.

According to the minister, Naqvi had assured the prime minister that Islamabad would be made Pakistan's first cashless city and the world's first cashless capital.

 

The minister further said all relevant institutions would work together to transform Islamabad into a modern digital city.

He added that representatives of the banking sector had praised the government's initiative and assured it of their full cooperation in implementing the project.

CDA Chairman Sohail Ashraf, banking sector representatives and other senior officials attended the meeting.

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The meeting followed governmental efforts to promote a cashless economy, with PM Shehbaz last week directing relevant authorities to prepare a clear roadmap, with specific timelines and targets, for establishing a fully digital payment system across the country.

The prime minister had said highlighted the promotion of digital payments as among the government's top priorities, noting that positive results had started to emerge.

He also called for ensuring nationwide internet connectivity and easy public access to technology to facilitate the transition, directing authorities to address customer complaints arising from the use of digital payment services without delay.

Further, the prime minister called for promoting digital transactions between consumers and merchants through the government's Raast QR Code initiative, saying it was helping advance the vision of a cashless economy. All ministries and government departments were directed to ensure the full implementation of the cashless economy plan.