Karachi: Minister of State for Finance, Bilal Azhar Kayani, visited the Pakistan Banks Association (PBA) head office in Karachi to meet with banking leaders concerning the Prime Minister’s Cashless Pakistan Initiative. The meeting was attended by officials from the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), the CEO of Raast, and representatives from Karandaaz.

According to Press Information Department, the Minister briefed banking executives on the initiative’s progress, emphasizing the increased adoption of digital payments and the digitization of government transactions. He outlined fiscal targets for 2026 and highlighted steps taken by the government to support these efforts, including the continuation of the Raast QR subsidy to maintain momentum in digital payments.

The Minister encouraged banks to enhance their roles in promoting digital payments and invited executives to share their views on improving outcomes in the cashless journey. He directed the SBP to collaborate with digital officers and industry leaders to develop recommendations for the Prime Minister’s Cashless Committee. These consultations aim to improve user experience in digital payments and suggest ways to increase adoption.

The Minister acknowledged the contributions of Karandaaz and expressed gratitude to the PBA for hosting the event, indicating a commitment to ongoing discussions with the banking sector on the Cashless Pakistan Initiative. The PBA thanked the Minister for his visit and reaffirmed its dedication to this national goal.