ISLAMABAD: Capital Development Authority (CDA) has accelerated efforts to transform Islamabad into Pakistan’s first fully cashless and digitized city, in line with the vision of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi.
A high-level meeting in this regard was held at the CDA Headquarters on Wednesday, chaired by Chairman CDA and Chief Commissioner Islamabad, Muhammad Ali Randhawa. The meeting was attended by Member Administration Talat Mahmood, Member Finance Tahir Naeem, senior CDA officials, and representatives of central and commercial banks.
Chairman Randhawa said Islamabad is being developed as a model city for digital payments, with cashless systems already operational in weekly bazaars, the One-Window Facilitation Centre, and metro and electric buses. He added that QR code-based payments are now being rapidly introduced in markazs, shopping malls, Class-III markets, hotels, guest houses, petrol pumps and restaurants.
He urged commercial banks to actively engage with traders and citizens and provide awareness, discounts, and incentives to promote digital payments through the Raast QR system.
He further said projects like M-Tag and digital parking are also being introduced, adding that these measures will collectively help make Islamabad a fully cashless and digitally managed city.