Pakistan’s Cashless Dashboard is set to receive annual performance targets for the current fiscal year along with new analytical indicators designed to strengthen real-time monitoring and improve data transparency. The move comes as the government continues efforts to accelerate the country’s transition toward digital financial services and reduce reliance on cash based transactions.
The development was discussed during a high-level review meeting held at the Finance Division ahead of the upcoming review of the Prime Minister’s Cashless Initiative. The meeting was chaired by Minister of State for Finance Bilal Azhar Kayani and was attended by senior officials from the Ministry of Finance, State Bank of Pakistan, National Database and Registration Authority, Capital Development Authority, Ministry of IT and Telecommunication, as well as representatives from the private sector.
During the meeting, officials reviewed progress achieved during the previous year across key digital finance indicators. These included the growth in active digital merchants, overall digital transaction volumes and the number of digital banking users. The review was aimed at assessing progress made so far while identifying areas requiring greater focus during the current fiscal year.
The meeting also examined progress on the digitization of government payments involving State Owned Enterprises and autonomous bodies. Officials reiterated the objective of fully digitizing payments made to vendors, employees and pensioners. Expanding digital payment channels for these government related transactions is expected to provide greater visibility over payment flows while supporting broader efforts to improve documentation within the economy.
Merchant adoption was another major area discussed during the review. Officials considered strategies to expand digital merchant acceptance across the country, with a proposal to establish a centralized merchant database. Such a database would help improve visibility of merchants and provide a more comprehensive view of digital transaction activity in real time.
The authorities also emphasized the need to simplify the user journey for citizens by enabling digital payments across different points where government and private sector services are accessed. The focus on easier payment processes is intended to make digital transactions more convenient for consumers and encourage wider adoption of cashless payment methods.
Minister of State for Finance Bilal Azhar Kayani reaffirmed the government’s commitment to developing a transparent, documented and inclusive economy. He said the ongoing efforts were aligned with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s vision for expanding digital financial activity and strengthening the country’s cashless ecosystem.
The minister further emphasized the importance of regular reviews to maintain momentum on the Cashless Initiative. According to the meeting, progress will continue to be monitored through recurring reviews to support timely implementation of planned measures and improve convenience for the public.
With new annual performance targets and additional analytical indicators planned for the Cashless Dashboard, authorities are seeking to establish a more detailed and timely view of Pakistan’s digital financial activity. The proposed measures cover digital merchants, transaction volumes, banking users, government payments and citizen payment journeys, providing a broader framework for tracking progress toward a more digitally documented economy.
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