Islamabad to Become Pakistan’s First Fully Cashless City by December 31
Talal announced that no cash payments would be accepted in departments operating under the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) administration and CDA after November 30.
Pakistan has announced plans to transform Islamabad into the country’s first fully cashless city, with government departments set to stop accepting cash payments after November 30 and all merchants targeted for integration into the digital payment system by December 31, 2026.
The decision was discussed during a high-level meeting chaired by Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry, attended by the Chairman of the Capital Development Authority (CDA), representatives of the banking sector and other senior officials.
During the meeting, banking sector representatives assured the government of their full cooperation in implementing the Cashless Islamabad initiative.
Talal Chaudhry said the project was being implemented rapidly under the directives of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the Interior Minister, emphasising the importance of consultation and coordination among all stakeholders.
He announced that no cash payments would be accepted in departments operating under the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) administration and CDA after November 30.
The government has also set a December 31 deadline to bring all merchants across Islamabad into the cashless payment system.
According to the minister, approximately 26,000 merchants in the federal capital have already been connected to digital payment platforms.
The initiative aims to expand digital payment facilities across the city, covering businesses ranging from roadside vendors and small shops to major commercial centres.
Chaudhry said the transition to cashless transactions would improve financial transparency, strengthen tax monitoring and modernise the country’s payment infrastructure.
The government expects the initiative to make financial transactions more efficient, transparent and accessible while reducing reliance on physical cash.
The Cashless Islamabad project represents a significant step towards Pakistan’s broader digital economy ambitions, with the federal capital intended to serve as a model for the adoption of digital payments in other cities.
The announced deadlines cover government payment acceptance and merchant integration. They do not necessarily mean that every private transaction in Islamabad will become cashless by December 31.