Shehbaz Sharif orders nationwide internet access for cashless economy
Government payments will move fully to Raast digital channels, with cheque payments under Asaan accounts ending from Nov. 15.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif ordered authorities on Friday to expand internet coverage and public access to technology to support a cashless economy, the state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported.
Sharif gave the directions while chairing a review meeting in Islamabad on promoting cashless payments.
He said the cashless drive is among the government's highest priorities and that early results are starting to show, and he praised the Finance Ministry and other state institutions for their work.
Sharif asked the relevant authorities to prepare a roadmap with specific timelines and targets for a 100-percent digital payment system across the country.
He also ordered quick action on problems consumers face with digital payments, along with wider internet availability.
The government will keep promoting Raast QR Code payments between consumers and merchants, which Sharif said supports its cashless vision.
He called for a media campaign urging electricity and gas customers to pay their bills using the QR codes printed on them.
Sharif directed all ministries and government departments to fully implement the cashless economy plan.
The meeting heard that digitizing payments in federal and provincial government institutions is moving rapidly, with most expected to finish by December.
All payments under the Benazir Income Support Programme are now made through digital wallets, participants were told.
Work is under way on an advanced digital payment system for areas without internet connectivity, and infrastructure to bring internet to all parts of the country is progressing swiftly, the meeting was informed.
Cheque payments under Asaan Assignment Accounts will be discontinued from Nov. 15, and from Nov. 16 all payments under these accounts nationwide will be made through the Raast digital system, participants were informed.
Training of drawing and disbursing officers for this change has been completed.
Raast is an instant payment platform run by the State Bank of Pakistan that lets people send and receive money electronically between bank accounts and digital wallets.
