Minister of State for Finance Bilal Azhar Kiani has announced that digital payment options, specifically QR codes, are now mandatory for retail outlets nationwide.
Speaking at a policy discussion hosted by the Institute for Public Opinion Research (IPOR), the minister confirmed that executive orders now require every merchant in Islamabad and all provinces to provide at least one digital transaction method.
The move is a central pillar of the government’s “Cashless Pakistan” program, aimed at documented financial growth.
Federal and provincial authorities are currently drafting legislation to provide a permanent legal framework for mandatory digital payments.
Addressing findings from the IPOR study on the tobacco industry, the minister vowed to tighten the Track and Trace System (TTS).
He emphasized that while law-abiding retailers have nothing to fear, the government will intensify its crackdown on illegal cigarette brands and non-compliant products to recover lost tax revenue.
Since retail oversight falls under provincial jurisdiction, local governments have been empowered to monitor warehouses, transport channels, and shops to eliminate illicit trade.
