ISLAMABAD: Islamabad has completed the first phase of its plan to become Pakistan’s first fully cashless and technology-driven model city, as directed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
In the first phase, digital payment systems were launched at weekly bazaars, the CDA One-Window Facilitation Centre, and on metro and electric bus services.
The second phase has now started, with the goal of expanding the Raast QR-code payment system across the entire city. This phase will cover major commercial areas, shopping malls, Class-III markets, hotels, guest houses, petrol pumps, restaurants, and other business points.
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A high-level meeting, chaired by CDA Chairman and Islamabad Chief Commissioner Muhammad Ali Randhawa, reviewed the progress and instructed officials to speed up the citywide rollout. Senior officials from CDA’s administration and finance wings, along with representatives of major commercial banks, attended the meeting.
Officials informed the meeting that QR-code payment systems are being quickly installed in markaz-level markets, malls, and local commercial areas to reduce the use of cash.
The chairman said Islamabad’s digital transformation also includes M-Tag integration and digital parking facilities, which will help build a smooth, secure, and fully digital urban system.
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He directed commercial banks to create awareness and guide both merchants and the public about digital payments. He also urged traders and shopkeepers to support the transition by offering discounts and incentives for QR-based payments.
He added that these measures will help Islamabad move faster towards becoming a cashless, transparent, and digitally inclusive city, setting an example for the rest of the country.
