ISLAMABAD: The number of active merchants accepting digital payments in Pakistan has increased sharply to 2.03 million, surpassing the government’s target of two million merchants by June 2026, Minister of State for Finance Bilal Azhar Kiyani said on Thursday.
Speaking to a high-level delegation from the Gates Foundation, Kiyani said the number of active digital payment merchants had risen from around 500,000 to 2.03 million, reflecting the rapid expansion of digital payment adoption across the country.
He attributed the increase to government measures aimed at encouraging businesses and merchants to shift towards digital transactions.
Among the initiatives supporting the transition is a Rs3.5 billion government subsidy designed to promote the adoption and use of digital payment systems.
The latest figures indicate that Pakistan has already moved beyond its June 2026 target, marking significant progress in efforts to expand the country’s digital payments network and reduce dependence on cash-based transactions.
