CDA Accelerates Drive for Cashless Islamabad

Date: Oct 04, 2025

ISLAMABAD: October 3, 2025: A meeting regarding the promotion of a cashless economy in Islamabad was held on Friday at the CDA Headquarters, chaired by Chairman Capital Development Authority (CDA) and Chief Commissioner Islamabad, Muhammad Ali Randhawa. The meeting was attended by CDA Member Finance Tahir Naeem, Member Planning and Design Dr. Khalid Hafiz, Special Secretary Ministry of Information Technology, Deputy Commissioner Islamabad Irfan Nawaz Memon, senior officers from CDA and ICT, as well as representatives from central and commercial banks and telecom companies. The meeting reviewed the progress of measures taken so far to promote a cashless economy in Islamabad. While briefing the meeting, Member Finance stated that, in line with the vision of the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, and the instructions of the Interior Minister, Mohsin Naqvi, the drive to establish a cashless economy in Islamabad is being accelerated. The meeting was informed that CDA has made it mandatory to implement digital payment systems, including Raast QR codes, for all types of payments and collections in Islamabad. It was apprised that under the cashless economy initiatives, over 5,000 merchants and shopkeepers across the city have so far been connected to the Raast QR code system. In this regard, the QR code system for digital payments has been successfully introduced in the weekly bazaars of Sector H-9 and Sector G-6. Efforts are underway to ensure the display of instant QR codes for all types of transactions in major commercial centers and rural areas of Islamabad. It was further briefed that the scope of the QR code system is being expanded to cover all Markaz, shopping malls, and Class III markets across the city. The meeting was further informed that a fully cashless system, through digital means including QR codes, has also been successfully implemented at CDA’s One Window Facilitation Center. QR code-based payment facilities have also been introduced in the metro and electric feeder buses in Islamabad. It was informed that various banks are sharing their data through a dashboard to review the progress of the cashless system. Chairman CDA Muhammad Ali Randhawa directed that an effective strategy be adopted to raise public awareness and promote digital payments in Islamabad. He said that CDA and the district administration are acting as facilitators by creating harmony among banks, the trader community, and customers. In this regard, the field teams of banks should work jointly with CDA and the district administration to provide better guidance to traders and consumers. He further directed that all banks and telecom companies should offer various incentives to attract traders and customers to the system. He highlighted that, to promote the cashless economy, CDA has eliminated Right of Way (ROW) charges for laying fiber optic networks. Chairman CDA emphasized that trade unions and trader associations should also be taken on board in the process of promoting the cashless economy. He directed that all stakeholders should work together to create awareness about digital payments through electronic, print, and social media. He further said that effective coordination with all relevant departments, banks, and the business community should be ensured to further accelerate the cashless process. He added that through these measures, Islamabad can be presented as a fully cashless and digitized city. These initiatives, he noted, will promote transparent, easy, secure, and fast digital transactions in Islamabad.