Pakistan is set to introduce a National Digital Payment Index (DPI) to track and enhance the progress of digital payments in the country. The DPI will provide a valuable tool for policymakers, financial institutions, and private sector players to gauge the adoption of digital payments and guide future developments.
The DPI will serve as a comprehensive framework to measure the extent of digital payment adoption across various channels, sectors, regions, and demographic groups. By identifying gaps and opportunities, the index will support targeted policy interventions and investments, driving Pakistan towards a more inclusive and efficient financial system.
Under the leadership of Karandaaz Pakistan, the DPI will combine scattered data into a structured and standardized measure. The initiative aims to offer insights into consumer behavior and the effectiveness of digital payment solutions, enabling stakeholders to track the evolution of Pakistan’s digital payment infrastructure.
Inspired by global models like the Mastercard Digital Payment Index, Pakistan’s DPI will include key indicators such as account penetration, card usage, POS adoption, QR code payment enablement, and mobile payment infrastructure.
The DPI will achieve several important objectives, including:
- Measuring adoption and usage of digital payment systems
- Providing actionable insights for stakeholders
- Understanding consumer behavior and payment preferences
- Standardizing key metrics to measure digital payment performance
- Supporting data-driven decision-making
- Benchmarking Pakistan’s digital payment progress against other countries
To ensure the index remains relevant and accurate, the DPI will be updated periodically using data provided by the SBP and Karandaaz Pakistan. This will provide a dynamic tool for continuous monitoring of digital payment trends and consumer behavior.
Karandaaz Pakistan has invited proposals for designing the comprehensive DPI, with a focus on integrating data from various publicly available sources. The DPI will play a crucial role in helping policymakers, regulators, and private sector players identify gaps, formulate targeted interventions, and monitor the impact of these efforts over time.
As Pakistan moves forward with its digital transformation agenda, the introduction of a national DPI is a significant step toward building a vibrant digital economy. By fostering increased adoption and innovation in the payment space, the DPI will position Pakistan at the forefront of digital financial services in the region, paving the way for sustainable economic growth.
