The government announced on Monday that Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) digital wallets will become fully operational by the end of November, and the next installment of payments to beneficiaries will be disbursed through them.
The development came during a review meeting on measures related to the cashless economy, which was chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad, read a press release by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).
The meeting was informed that electricity and gas bills were being made cashless through Raast QR codes, enabling payment worth billions of rupees via digital systems.
The PM was also briefed on the progress regarding 10 million digital wallets being developed under the BISP.
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“Awareness in rural areas should be increased to achieve a completely cashless economy and eliminate the informal economy,” the PMO quoted the premier as saying.
He said that the entire world was rapidly moving toward a digital economy, and Pakistan must keep pace with the rest of the world.
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Moreover, the meeting was informed that the mobile application established in Islamabad for accessing government services was integrated with Raast, and payments were being made through it.
In Islamabad, the issuance of new business licenses 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, the meeting was informed.
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