Hajra Naz
The federal government has mandated that QR codes be put on all phone, gas, and electricity bills. The goal of this action is to promote digital payments throughout the nation.
According to press sources, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif presided over a meeting when the decision was reached.
In a related step, the OGRA chairman and the secretary of petroleum have been ordered to develop a plan in less than a month. The plan will require QR code, PoS, and soft PoS payment options at all fuel stations nationwide.
The CDA Chairman will review current laws. The goal is to make digital payments mandatory across various public utilities and services in Islamabad.
The government also approved new digital payment targets for the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP). To support this shift, the Finance Ministry and SBP will increase the subsidy limit to Rs. 3.5 billion.
Banks can now charge a maximum Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) of 0.25% on digital transactions. Any cost above that will be covered by service providers, not merchants.
The Government Payments Sub-Committee will work with provinces to revise implementation timelines. This nationwide effort is part of a broader plan to reduce cash use and strengthen Pakistan’s digital economy.
