Govt Orders Independent Audit of 2025 Cashless Economy Initiative

In a significant move aimed at ensuring transparency, efficiency, and effective implementation, the Government of Pakistan has ordered an independent audit of its ambitious Cashless Economy Initiative 2025. The program, which is regarded as one of Pakistan’s most transformative economic reforms, seeks to revolutionize the country’s financial ecosystem by promoting digital payments, expanding financial inclusion, and building a transparent and sustainable economy.

The decision comes as part of the government’s broader strategy to transform Pakistan into a digitally enabled, paperless, and innovation-driven economy, aligning with its Digital Pakistan Vision.

The Cashless Economy Initiative 2025, launched earlier this year, is a flagship project designed to modernize the country’s financial system. It focuses on creating an integrated digital payments infrastructure, streamlining government-to-person (G2P) and person-to-government (P2G) transactions, and minimizing cash dependency nationwide.

• Enhancing transparency in government financial systems

• Promoting financial inclusion by enabling underserved communities to access digital financial services

• Expanding the tax base through digital transaction tracking

• Improving public service delivery via seamless payment channels

• Reducing financial leakages in government transactions

• Building an innovation-friendly digital ecosystem

To ensure smooth implementation, the government has formed three high-level functional committees under the Prime Minister’s direct supervision. These committees are responsible for coordinating efforts between public institutions, private stakeholders, and the financial industry.

Digital Payments Adoption and Innovation Committee
Focused on expanding the use of digital payment methods among merchants, consumers, and retailers.

Digital Public Infrastructure Committee
Responsible for enhancing the technological infrastructure required for the transition to a cashless economy.

Government Payments Committee
Ensures that all G2P and P2G transactions are digitized, improving speed and transparency.

These committees hold weekly progress review meetings, chaired by the Prime Minister, to track milestones and resolve emerging challenges.

Despite notable progress in digitization, the scale and complexity of the Cashless Economy Initiative prompted the government to commission a comprehensive independent audit. According to official sources, this move will ensure accountability, transparency, and effective governance of the project.

The audit will be conducted by an international consultancy firm, selected through a competitive bidding process. The firm will evaluate the design, implementation, and impact of the initiative, providing data-driven insights to refine strategies.

One of the most impactful features of the initiative is the digitization of all G2P and P2G transactions. This transition aims to:

• Reduce cash handling and associated risks

• Ensure real-time payments to beneficiaries

• Improve transparency in tax collections and government subsidies

• Enable better tracking of public funds

By adopting digital payment methods nationwide, Pakistan seeks to eliminate inefficiencies, reduce corruption, and empower citizens through secure financial access.

The government’s decision to commission an independent audit of the Cashless Economy Initiative 2025 marks a critical milestone in Pakistan’s journey toward becoming a digital-first economy. By evaluating progress, governance, and implementation strategies, the audit will ensure greater accountability and accelerate Pakistan’s transition to a cashless society.