The government announced on Monday that the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) digital wallets will be fully operational by the end of November, and the next installment of payments to beneficiaries will be made through these wallets.
This development was highlighted during a review meeting on measures related to a cashless economy, chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad.
Federal Ministers Ahad Khan Cheema, Muhammad Aurangzeb, Attaullah Tarar, Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Minister of State Bilal Azhar Kayani, Governor State Bank Jameel Ahmad, Chairman NADRA Lieutenant General Muhammad Munir Afsar, Chairman FBR Rashid Mahmood Langrial, and other concerned senior officials attended the meeting.
According to the PMO House, the meeting was informed that electricity and gas bills are being made cashless through RAAST QR codes, enabling billions of rupees in payments through the digital system.
The Prime Minister was also briefed on the progress of one crore digital wallets being prepared under the Benazir Income Support Programme.
On this occasion, the Prime Minister stated that awareness needs to be increased in rural areas to fully transition to a cashless economy and eliminate the informal economy. He emphasized that the world is rapidly moving towards a digital economy, and Pakistan must keep pace with the rest of the world.
The meeting was further informed that the mobile application established in Islamabad for access to government services has been integrated with RAAST, and payments are being made through it.
It was also informed that the issuance of new business licenses in Islamabad has been linked to the digital payment system, and all existing shops have been provided with the facility to receive payments through RAAST QR codes.
