Pakistan to Shift Government Payments to Digital System from November 16; Cheque-Based Payments for Assignment Accounts to End.

ISLAMABAD, November 7, 2026: The federal government has announced plans to discontinue cheque-based payments under Assignment Accounts and shift the transactions to the digital payment system Raast from November 16, 2026, as part of its efforts to promote a cashless economy.
According to details, a high-level meeting on promoting a cashless economy and expanding digital payment systems was held under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Federal ministers, the Governor of the State Bank of Pakistan, provincial chief secretaries and other senior officials attended the meeting.
Addressing the meeting, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that promoting a cashless economy was among the government's key priorities and that positive results of the ongoing initiatives had started to emerge.
The prime minister directed the relevant authorities to establish a clear roadmap and ambitious targets to ensure that all payments across the country are converted to digital channels. He also emphasized the need to ensure uninterrupted internet connectivity nationwide to support the transition.
Shehbaz Sharif instructed officials to promptly address complaints and difficulties faced by users of digital payment services. He also directed the launch of an immediate media campaign to encourage consumers to pay electricity and gas bills through QR codes.
The prime minister emphasized continuing the initiative to promote payments through Raast QR codes, describing the system as an important component of the government's vision for a cashless economy.
He further directed all federal ministries and government institutions to implement the digital payment initiative without delay.
During the meeting, officials briefed the prime minister that the process of shifting payments to digital channels across federal and provincial institutions was progressing rapidly. They said that payments in most government institutions were expected to become fully digital by December 2026.
Officials also informed the meeting that 100 percent of payments under the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) were now being made through digital wallets.
According to the briefing, cheque-based payments under Assignment Accounts will be discontinued from November 15, 2026, while all such payments will be transferred entirely to the Raast digital system from November 16.
Officials further stated that all Drawing and Disbursing Officers (DDOs) had received training to operate the new system. Meanwhile, work is also underway to introduce alternative digital arrangements for areas where internet connectivity is unavailable or limited.
The government says the initiative is aimed at improving transparency, efficiency and convenience in public payments while reducing reliance on cash transactions and strengthening Pakistan's digital economy.