ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday directed the relevant authorities to prepare a ‘clear roadmap and time-bound targets’ for establishing a 100 per cent digital payments system in the country.
According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), the premier issued the directives during a highlevel meeting he chaired in Islamabad on promoting a cashless economy.
‘The issues faced by users in the digital payments system should be resolved immediately,’ he said.
He stressed that promoting a cashless economy required ensuring internet access across the country and easy access to technologyfor the public.
‘Promoting a cashless economy is one of the government’s top priorities, with its positive results already beginning to emerge,’ he said.
He also commended the ‘ongoing successful efforts by the finance ministry and all relevant state institutions’ to promote a cashless economy. ‘The payment system through Raast QR codes is proving instrumental in achieving the government’s vision of a cashless economy,’ the prime minister observed, directing that the scheme to promote digital payments between consumers and merchants through Raast QR codes continue under government patronage.
Media campaign The prime ministerordered the launch of an effective media campaign to encourage electricity and gas consumers to make payments through QR codes printed on utility bills. He also instructe d all ministries and government institutions to ensure full implementation of the cashless economy plan.
During the meeting, officials briefed the prime minister on ongoing measures to promote a cashless economy.
According to the briefing, work on digitising payments in federal and provincial government institutions was progressing rapidly, with payments in ‘most institutions’expected to be fully digitised by December this year, the PMO statement said.
It added that 100pc of payments under the Benazir Income Support Programme were being made through digital wallets.
‘Work is underway to introduce a modern system for digital payments in areas without internet access,’ the meeting was informed.
‘Efforts to establish infrastructureforinternet provision across the country are progressing rapidly,’ the statement said.
It added that chequebased payments through Asaan AssignmentAccounts would be discontinued from Nov 15 and replaced with payments through the Raast digital system across the country.
Drawing and disbursing officers had already been trained in this regard, it noted.
Modernising TDAP Presiding over a separate meeting, the prime minister approved a plan to modernise the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) to boost the country’s exports, improve access for local products to global markets and align localindustries, including small and medium enterprises (SMEs), with export standards.
‘A modernised TDAP would pave the way for achieving access to globalmarkets for manufactured industrial products with a view to boosting exports, the prime minister was quoted as saying in an of ficial press release.
He directed that a complete ecosystem, including the entire value chain, be established for agricultural exports and that highly trained human resources be inducted into the authority through a transparent, merit-based process.
Calling for professional growth to be linked to performance and target achievement, he directed the hiring of a reputable private audit firm to conduct performance and financial audits of the authority.
During the meeting, a comprehensive reform package was presented totransform TDAP into a world-class trade promotion organisation responsive to modern needs.
The proposals include streamlining the authority’s mandate to eight core functions, restructuring its board and management, optimising its regional network, adopting digital platforms and artificial intelligence, and introducing measurable performance indicators alongsideindependent third-party evaluations.
A phased 12-month implementation roadmap, covering approval, design, execution and independent assessment, was also presented. The prime minister directed that the reforms be completed and fully operationalised by the middle of next year.