ISLAMABAD: (PR: Dated November 1, 2025): A significant meeting was held at the Capital Development Authority (CDA) Headquarters, chaired by Chairman CDA and Chief Commissioner Islamabad, Muhammad Ali Randhawa, regarding the promotion of a cashless economy in Islamabad. The meeting was attended by CDA Member Finance Tahir Naeem, senior officers from CDA and ICT and representatives from major commercial banks and telecommunications companies.
Chairman CDA Muhammad Ali Randhawa said that, in line with the vision of Prime Minister of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif and Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Islamabad is being developed as a model city for a cashless economy.
The meeting reviewed the measures taken so far to promote a cashless economy in Islamabad. During the briefing, it was informed that comprehensive efforts are underway to display Raast QR codes for all types of transactions in both urban and rural areas of Islamabad. In this regard, a cashless system has already been successfully introduced in Islamabad’s weekly bazaars, CDA’s One-Window Facilitation Centers and metro and electric buses.
The meeting was informed that over 39,000 vendors and shopkeepers in Islamabad have already become part of the cashless system, and the scope of QR code implementation is being expanded to all markazs, shopping malls, and Class Three Shopping Centers across the city. It was further informed that various banks and financial institutions share their data through a dashboard to review the progress of the cashless system.
Chairman CDA Muhammad Ali Randhawa emphasized the need for an effective strategy to raise public awareness and promote digital payments. He directed that all stakeholders should provide incentives to both sellers/businesses and consumers to encourage payments via direct QR codes. He also instructed that seminars should be organized in collaboration with trade unions to listen to the problems faced by traders and provide them with practical guidance.
Chairman CDA Muhammad Ali Randhawa directed that the cashless system must also be mandatorily implemented in hotels, guest houses, petrol pumps, schools and restaurants. He said that banks’ field teams, in collaboration with the CDA and district administration, should provide better guidance to traders and consumers. He emphasized ensuring effective coordination with all relevant institutions, banks and the business community to further accelerate the cashless process.
Chairman CDA Muhammad Ali Randhawa said that these measures will help establish Islamabad as a fully cashless and digitized city. He added that these initiatives will promote the most transparent safe and secure digital transaction methods in Islamabad.