Pakistan Records 12% Surge in Digital Payment Transactions

ISLAMABAD: (Web Desk) – Pakistan has recorded a 12 percent increase in digital transactions, reflecting the country’s accelerating shift toward a cashless economy.

According to the Pakistan Banks Association (PBA), nearly 88 percent of all payments in the country are now being made through digital channels, underscoring the growing adoption of electronic financial services.

The association noted that while the number of digital transactions has increased significantly, higher transaction volumes do not necessarily translate into greater monetary value.

The PBA also announced plans to hold key meetings later this year to discuss the future of retail banking and Pakistan’s evolving financial sector.

Meanwhile, the State Bank of Pakistan’s (SBP) Payment Systems Quarterly Review showed that the country’s digital payments ecosystem maintained strong momentum during the third quarter of FY2025-26.

Retail transactions processed through formal banking and payment channels reached 3.7 billion during January-March 2026, representing a 9 percent quarter-on-quarter increase.

Pakistan’s first public-private TV Channel ATV shuts down after two decades

The total value of retail payments rose to Rs168.8 trillion, up 1 percent from the previous quarter, highlighting the expanding use of digital financial services across the country.

Digital payment platforms—including mobile banking applications, internet banking, digital wallets, ATMs, point-of-sale (POS) terminals and e-commerce channels—handled 3.4 billion transactions worth Rs68.3 trillion during the quarter.

These digital channels accounted for 92 percent of the total retail payment volume, reflecting Pakistan’s continued progress toward a more digitally connected and cash-lite economy.