The National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has digitized 99% of payments at its service centres across Pakistan, marking significant progress in the use of electronic payment systems for public services. The development was discussed during a meeting on October 13, 2026, chaired by Minister of State for Railways and Finance Bilal Azhar Kayani at the Finance Division in Islamabad. The meeting reviewed progress under the federal government’s Cashless Pakistan initiative and examined digital payment indicators for the next phase of implementation. According to the official briefing, the digitisation of payments at NADRA centres is part of a wider effort to make government transactions more accessible through electronic channels. Passport centres have also been enabled to accept digital payments, extending the use of cashless transactions to additional citizen-facing services. The progress indicates a shift towards integrating digital payment options into routine administrative processes, although the reported 99% figure relates specifically to payments at NADRA service centres.
The adoption of digital payments at NADRA centres forms part of a broader expansion of electronic payment infrastructure across Pakistan’s public and private sectors. During the meeting, officials reported that the number of merchants accepting digital payments had increased fourfold in the last fiscal year. Around 75% of payments across the federal government’s centralised and self-accounting entities are now accepted digitally, according to the briefing. These developments show how payment digitisation is moving beyond banking applications and retail transactions into government service delivery. For citizens, digital payment facilities can reduce dependence on cash when paying service fees and may offer more convenient transaction options at participating centres. However, the practical benefits depend on the payment methods available, the reliability of transaction systems and whether users can access suitable digital channels. The meeting did not disclose a breakdown of the payment methods used at NADRA centres or explain how the remaining 1% of payments are processed.
Officials also reviewed how the government measures progress towards a cashless economy. The meeting focused on three key indicators: active and unique users of digital payment channels, the annual number of digital transactions, and the number of merchants actively accepting electronic payments. Participants discussed how activity and uniqueness should be defined to ensure that the figures accurately represent adoption rather than counting inactive accounts or duplicate users. The committee decided to review the definitions of active app users, active merchants and unique digital payment users. Accurate measurement is important because the number of registered accounts alone does not necessarily show how frequently digital payment services are used. More consistent reporting could help the government assess whether electronic payment infrastructure is translating into regular transactions across different user groups and sectors. The committee also emphasised the need for validated, reliable and non-duplicated data on the Cashless Pakistan dashboard to support the monitoring of progress.
The government is also considering policy measures to encourage wider adoption of digital payments. Kayani asked private-sector representatives to prepare recommendations on tax policy reforms that could support the next stage of the Cashless Pakistan initiative. The meeting brought together representatives from the Finance Division, State Bank of Pakistan, Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication, NADRA and Pakistan Digital Authority, alongside participants from the banking and financial technology sectors. The government’s stated objectives include improving public convenience, increasing transparency and expanding the documentation of economic activity. NADRA’s progress provides an example of how digital payments can be incorporated into high-volume public services, but the wider transition will require continued coordination among government departments, financial institutions, payment providers and merchants. The next phase will focus on refining performance indicators and identifying policy measures to increase adoption while ensuring that reported progress reflects actual use of digital payment systems.
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