Breaking News: PM Shehbaz Sharif Launches the Digital Wallet System 2025
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has officially launched the Digital Wallet System 2025, marking a major milestone toward transforming Pakistan into a cashless and digitally connected economy.
To support this transition, the government has approved a Rs. 3.5 billion subsidy for State Bank–regulated financial institutions. The subsidy will remain effective from September 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025, and is aimed at promoting QR-based digital payments across the country.
What Is the Digital Wallet System ?
The Digital Wallet System is designed to enable all Pakistanis, from large businesses to small shopkeepers, to send and receive payments digitally through QR codes directly linked to their bank accounts or mobile wallets.
With this system, citizens will be able to make instant, cashless payments for groceries, fuel, and even street vendors using a simple mobile scan. The platform will also support government-to-person (G2P) and person-to-merchant (P2M) payments, making transactions faster, safer, and more transparent.
Why Pakistan Needed a Digital Wallet Revolution
According to official data, Pakistan has around Rs. 29,000 billion in bank deposits and Rs. 51,000 billion in cash circulating in the economy.
This means almost 27.25% of Pakistan’s total money supply exists in physical cash — one of the highest ratios in the world.
WhatsApp ChannelFor comparison:
- 🇮🇳 India: 14%
- 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka: 12%
- 🇺🇸 United States: 11%
- 🇻🇪 Venezuela: 4%
This heavy reliance on cash reflects the country’s large undocumented sector, making tax collection and transparency difficult.
The Digital Wallet System 2025 aims to solve this by bringing every rupee under digital traceability — ensuring economic accountability and reducing corruption.
PM Shehbaz Sharif’s Vision for a Cashless Pakistan
During the official launch, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif emphasized that digital transformation is the key to Pakistan’s economic revival.
He stated:
“Our goal is to make every transaction traceable, every rupee accountable, and every citizen empowered through digital inclusion. This reform will redefine how Pakistan earns, spends, and saves.”
He also announced the formation of a high-level committee to oversee the transition from cash-based to digital payment systems across all government departments, businesses, and merchants.
How the System Will Work
The Digital Wallet System will operate on RA-based payment standards that already power about 80 percent of global digital transactions. The platform will support multiple use cases, including QR-based merchant payments, e-commerce integration, SME digital onboarding, women’s financial inclusion, and agriculture financing.
With this system, a person will be able to pay for vegetables, fruits, or tea at a roadside stall simply by scanning a QR code, bringing ease and safety to everyday transactions.
Key Benefits of Digital Wallet 2025
| Benefit | Impact on Citizens |
| Transparency | Reduces undocumented cash transactions |
| Ease of Payments | Enables fast, contactless QR payments nationwide |
| Financial Inclusion | Brings unbanked citizens into the digital economy |
| Business Growth | Encourages SMEs and e-commerce entrepreneurs |
| Security | Reduces theft, fraud, and counterfeit issues |
| Tax Efficiency | Improves national revenue and reduces corruption |
Experts believe that by the end of 2025, more than 70 percent of domestic payments could shift to digital channels, boosting economic transparency and aligning Pakistan with global fintech standards.
A Step Toward Digital Pakistan
The launch of the Digital Wallet System 2025 represents a bold step toward a modern financial ecosystem where every Pakistani can earn, spend, and save digitally. It will not only strengthen economic governance but also ensure financial empowerment for citizens across urban and rural areas alike.
As digital adoption continues to rise, Pakistan’s move toward a cashless economy could become one of the most significant economic transformations in its history.
Summary
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has launched the Digital Wallet System 2025 to make Pakistan a cashless economy. The Rs. 3.5 billion subsidy will help expand QR-based digital payments nationwide, promoting transparency and financial inclusion.
