The National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has successfully digitized 99 percent of payments at its service centres across Pakistan, marking a major milestone in the national Cashless Pakistan initiative. Announced during a high-level review meeting on October 13, 2026, the institutional shift aims to streamline public fee collection, improve economic transparency, and accelerate financial inclusion across federal entities.
By SarmayaNext Corporate & Business Desk • ✓ Fact-Checked • Published October 2026
What Are the Core Updates in NADRA Goes Cashless?
NADRA has digitized 99 percent of payments at its service centres across Pakistan, while 75 percent of federal centralized and self-accounting entities now accept digital payments. The initiative forms a core part of Pakistan’s broader drive toward economic transparency and documented financial transactions.
The National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has digitized 99 percent of payment operations across its service centres in Pakistan. This operational shift was evaluated during an official review meeting held at the Finance Division on October 13, 2026, chaired by Minister of State for Railways and Finance Bilal Azhar Kayani.
Alongside NADRA’s achievement, passport centres have also been fully enabled to accept digital payments. Government officials reported during the briefing that approximately 75 percent of payments across federal centralized and self-accounting entities are now accepted digitally, reflecting a broad institutional push across public administration.
Key Metrics of Pakistan’s Digital Payment Expansion
| Indicator / Entity | Digitization Status | Context |
|---|---|---|
| NADRA Service Centres | 99 percent | Digitized payment processing nationwide |
| Passport Centres | Fully Enabled | Accepting digital transaction rails |
| Federal Centralized Entities | 75 percent | Accepting digital payments across self-accounting departments |
| Digital Merchants | Fourfold Increase | Recorded growth in merchants accepting digital payments over the last fiscal year |
Key Indicators Reviewed for Digital Payment Progress
- Tracking active and unique digital payment users across banking and fintech platforms
- Measuring the total annual volume and frequency of digital transactions
- Monitoring the growth of active merchants accepting electronic payments
- Standardizing definitions across regulators to prevent double counting
How NADRA Goes Cashless Impacts Consumers and Businesses in Pakistan
The transition of public institutions toward electronic transactions carries vital second-order effects for Pakistan’s business environment and tax compliance architecture. According to official figures reviewed during the October 2026 meeting, the number of merchants accepting digital payments increased fourfold during the preceding fiscal year, demonstrating a growing commercial appetite for electronic settlement rails.
To ensure that this expansion is measured accurately without statistical distortions, the inter-agency committee agreed to review the precise definitions of active app users, active merchants, and unique digital payment users. By eliminating potential double counting, policymakers aim to gain a reliable statistical foundation for the next phase of the Cashless Pakistan initiative.
Furthermore, Bilal Azhar Kayani invited private sector stakeholders—including representatives from the Pakistan Banking Association, mobile wallet providers like Easypaisa and JazzCash, commercial banks such as Bank Alfalah and JS Bank, and Karandaaz Pakistan—to formulate targeted tax policy recommendations. These proposals are expected to lower adoption barriers for merchants and further integrate informal commercial activity into the documented economy.
Key Takeaways
- NADRA has digitized 99 percent of all payment processing across its service centres nationwide.
- Passport centres across Pakistan are now fully integrated to accept digital payments.
- Approximately 75 percent of payments across federal centralized and self-accounting entities are processed digitally.
- The number of merchants accepting digital payments recorded a fourfold increase during the last fiscal year.
The Insider Take
The deliberate engagement between federal ministries, the State Bank of Pakistan, and private fintech operators highlights a shift from unilateral public mandates to collaborative regulatory design.
Refining core metrics such as unique digital users and active merchants will be essential for preventing inflated adoption figures and guiding targeted infrastructure investments.
Frequently Asked Questions About NADRA Goes Cashless
What is the latest update on NADRA Goes Cashless?
NADRA has digitized 99 percent of payments across its service centres in Pakistan. The milestone was reviewed during an official Finance Division meeting on October 13, 2026, which also noted that passport centres have transitioned to digital payment acceptance.
How does NADRA Goes Cashless affect consumers and businesses in Pakistan?
The transition makes fee payments more convenient and transparent while supporting the broader Cashless Pakistan initiative. With federal entities accepting 75 percent of payments digitally and merchant adoption growing fourfold, businesses benefit from formalized transaction rails.
Which organizations are collaborating on the Cashless Pakistan initiative?
The initiative involves federal bodies like the Finance Division, State Bank of Pakistan, NADRA, and the Pakistan Digital Authority, alongside private sector participants including the Pakistan Banking Association, Easypaisa, JazzCash, commercial banks, and Karandaaz Pakistan.
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