Islamabad is on track to become Pakistan’s first fully digital city, as the Capital Development Authority (CDA) has announced the mandatory implementation of QR codes for all payments across the capital. The decision, which marks a major shift toward a cashless economy, was taken during a high-level meeting chaired by CDA Member Administration and Estate, Talat Mehmood, at the CDA Headquarters.
The meeting was attended by CDA Member Finance Tahir Naeem, senior representatives from the State Bank of Pakistan, the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Administration, officials from CDA, and representatives of both private and commercial banks. The initiative aligns closely with the Prime Minister’s vision of transforming Islamabad into a model digital city, with technology playing a central role in promoting transparency, efficiency, and convenience in everyday transactions.
Under the new directive, all types of businesses in Islamabad will be required to adopt QR code-based payment systems. This includes retail and wholesale markets, shopping malls, restaurants, hospitals, pharmacies, laboratories, service providers, public and private offices, and even taxi and ride-hailing services. CDA has emphasized that QR codes will be a universal requirement, regardless of business size, in order to ensure uniformity across all sectors.
A formal notification making QR codes compulsory will be issued soon. Once enforced, commercial centers, markets, and service providers will need to prominently display QR codes at payment counters, giving customers the option to pay digitally instead of using cash. The CDA also plans to launch a city-wide public awareness campaign to help citizens transition smoothly to the new system, highlighting the benefits of faster, safer, and more transparent transactions.
Another key element of the plan involves building an integrated interface between the banking sector and merchants, powered by Pakistan’s instant payment system “Raast.” This step will simplify QR code issuance and adoption while ensuring interoperability across banks and payment providers. By leveraging Raast, CDA hopes to make digital transactions not only seamless but also cost-effective for small businesses and everyday consumers.
The authority further confirmed that all CDA-related payments, including fees, dues, and other transactions, will also be fully digitized. Measures are being introduced to eliminate cash dealings within the organization itself, reinforcing the broader goal of establishing a paperless and transparent governance system. A steering committee, comprising representatives of CDA, ICT, the State Bank, and commercial banks, has been formed to monitor the transition and ensure consistent policy implementation across the city.
Speaking after the meeting, CDA Member Administration and Estate Talat Mehmood stressed that the move would revolutionize the way financial transactions are conducted in Islamabad. He highlighted that the adoption of digital payments will improve transparency, curb leakages, and accelerate economic activity by making transactions simpler and faster. He further noted that CDA has already taken internal steps toward digital transformation, including the adoption of paperless systems within its own offices, and is committed to turning Islamabad into the country’s first truly cashless and digitalized city.
This decision marks a landmark development in Pakistan’s digital journey, potentially serving as a model for other cities nationwide. By embracing QR code payments at scale, Islamabad is setting the stage for deeper fintech integration, greater financial inclusion, and a more resilient economy built on transparency and innovation.
